NEW ORLEANS (LA)
Big Easy Magazine [New Orleans LA]
April 30, 2025
Five years after the Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy, survivors of clergy sexual abuse are asking a federal judge to shut the entire process down. On Tuesday, attorneys representing survivors filed a motion to dismiss the Archdiocese’s Chapter 11 case, calling it a bad-faith maneuver that has prolonged suffering, shielded church assets, and wasted tens of millions of dollars.
Attorneys Representing Survivors of Catholic Church File – Catholic Church Abuse Archdiocese Church Abuse Doc. “The Archdiocese of New Orleans is the largest known employer of pedophiles in the 300+ year history of Louisiana,” it states. “This bankruptcy needs to be dismissed.”
Survivors Return to Court
The court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (500 Poydras Street, Courtroom B-709). It coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing—an anniversary many survivors see not as a milestone, but as a symbol of justice delayed.
The survivor-led group Survivors of Childhood Sex Abuse (SCSA) is urging the public to show support, either by attending the hearing or joining virtually.
Virtual Access:
• Phone: (504) 517-1385
• Access Code: 129611
• Video Access: GoToMeeting – Judge Grabill (https://gotomeet.me/JudgeGrabill)
Five Years of Silence and Spending
According to the motion, the Archdiocese has spent nearly $50 million on attorneys, consultants, and other professionals—three times the national average for similar religious bankruptcies, and without producing a viable settlement plan.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond is singled out as the central authority in the case, with sole control over the Archdiocese’s finances, legal strategies, and public responses. The court filing argues that the church’s structure allows Aymond to make sweeping decisions unilaterally, without board approval or external oversight.
That structure, survivors argue, has led to persistent mismanagement. Among the most serious allegations: Aymond misinformed the Vatican in 2020 by claiming the abuse claims were worth less than $7.5 million—a figure that allowed him to file bankruptcy without Vatican approval. By that point, the Archdiocese had already paid out $1 million to settle a single abuse case.
A Volunteer, a Laptop, and a $50 Million Tab
In one of the most startling revelations, the Archdiocese appointed a 72-year-old unpaid volunteer, Lee Eagan, to oversee bankruptcy finances. Eagan, who is not a lawyer or accountant, testified that he suffered cognitive decline following a car accident in 2022. Despite that, he has signed off on nearly $50 million in professional fees while working from a personal desktop computer at home—without staff, a budget, or access to bankruptcy billing guidelines.
At one point, Eagan admitted his strategy in mediation was to contradict survivor attorneys simply to slow the process: “They just said the wall’s blue. I’ve got to say I’m not sure—it might be pink.”
Survivors argue this obstructionist approach was not just tolerated but encouraged. The motion alleges the Archdiocese deliberately delayed progress in hopes that Louisiana’s three-year lookback window—legislation allowing survivors to file otherwise-expired claims—would be overturned in court. Behind closed doors, Aymond allegedly funded legal efforts to strike down the law while publicly claiming to support it .
Still No Full Disclosure of Church Wealth
After five years, the Archdiocese has not amended its bankruptcy filings to disclose the full value of its real estate and assets. Many properties are still listed with “undetermined” value, and survivors say critical documents have not been filed under oath, as required.
Internal church insurance records, the motion notes, list over $2.1 billion in property holdings. Yet the church has continued to insist on limits—such as a $20 million cap on real estate sales tied to a 2020 settlement—that restrict how much can be used to fund survivor compensation.
Six New Arrests, No Internal Reform
The motion also reveals that six clergy members have been arrested for sexual crimes during the course of the bankruptcy, including cases involving child pornography and abuse. Despite this, survivors say the Archdiocese has failed to launch internal investigations or report allegations to law enforcement if the victim is now an adult.
At one point, Aymond claimed there had only been one abuse case “on his watch”—a statement contradicted by public records. The motion argues that current church policy actively protects known abusers by delaying accountability and allowing them to retain benefits and titles.
What Dismissal Would Do
If the court agrees to dismiss the case, survivors could resume their lawsuits in state court, where proceedings would no longer be protected by the veil of bankruptcy. Internal records would be more likely to come to light, and trials could proceed without the procedural delays of Chapter 11.
The Archdiocese’s own proposed settlement plan—offering just over $62 million—was filed nearly a year ago and has been widely rejected. The survivors’ committee proposed a counterplan totaling $217 million, but no agreement has been reached.
“The last five years have been brutal to survivors,” the motion concludes. “The Archdiocese enabled their abuse in the first instance, and its bankruptcy has denied them closure, mental health treatment, and faith in the judicial system.”
Public Pressure Still Matters
SCSA says this Thursday is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a chance for the community to stand with survivors and demand better from the institutions that failed them.
“Even just calling in lets survivors know they’re not alone,” a spokesperson said. “That matters—especially when the system still doesn’t want to hear them.”
For interviews or more information, contact:
Survivors of Childhood Sex Abuse (SCSA)
Phone: (469) 275-1439
Email: info@scsaorg.org