TORONTO (ONTARIO, CANADA)
BNN Bloomberg
October 2, 2020
By Josh Saul
The Diocese of Camden in New Jersey filed for bankruptcy, becoming the latest U.S. Catholic Church district to seek court protection from a surge of lawsuits filed by victims of clergy sexual abuse.
The Camden diocese filed for protection late Thursday in New Jersey, joining at least five other dioceses that have declared bankruptcy this year to deal with sexual abuse claims. One of the largest church districts in the U.S., Long Island’s Diocese of Rockville Centre, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this week.
“This decision is intended to allow for the fair compensation of the victims of abuse, the payment of debts to our creditors, and the safeguarding of the assets which make our religious, educational and social service ministries possible,” Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan wrote in a letter posted on the diocese website.
Sullivan also blamed the Covid-19 virus for straining diocese finances. The pandemic restricted church attendance while also increasing the needs of the elderly, homeless and poor people the district serves, according to a court filing.
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