NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WVUE - Fox 8 [New Orleans LA]
December 4, 2025
By Thanh Truong
Attorneys for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, survivors of alleged clergy sex abuse, and several insurance companies delivered closing arguments Thursday (Dec. 4) in one of the most protracted and most expensive Catholic church bankruptcies in U.S. history.
“This is probably just one chapter closed, but I’m not done because we didn’t get what we came for,” said Brian Manix, a claimant in the bankruptcy case.
“This whole process has been one of anxiety, but it’s also been one of healing,” said New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond.
The arguments capped several days of testimony from Aymond, nearly two dozen abuse survivors, and senior financial officers of the archdiocese.
Manix, who says disgraced and now-deceased deacon George Brignac sexually abused him, said he’s relieved that the end of the case is in sight, but the trauma he endured as a child persists.
“There’s not enough money in the world to give me back what they took from me,” Manix said outside federal court Thursday.
The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after hundreds of abuse claims were brought forward. It took five years and an estimated $50 million in legal fees to reach a settlement agreement.
The plan includes a $230 million fund to compensate survivors, along with a series of reforms—referred to as nonmonetary provisions—aimed at strengthening child protection practices across churches and schools. Aymond said he believes the reforms will ultimately enhance the institution.
“We believe when there is suffering, there is also a resurrection. And we believe in the resurrection and hope and pray that we will be able to move in that direction,” Aymond said after the hearing.
Manix, however, expressed doubt that the reforms will result in meaningful change.
“Nothing is going to happen. I really, truly in my heart just don’t feel anything is going to change. And it’s not just a discredit to us, the survivors, it’s a discredit to the Catholics that are still practicing. Look at all the other church bankruptcies happening across the country,” he said.
Attorney Richard Trahant, who represents 82 claimants, argued that the proposed resolution, though described in court as a “historic” moment and a path toward a “clean future,” fails to deliver justice to survivors.
“The only party that gets closure here is the archdiocese. They get to close the book, write some checks and move on. And again, the question is, why did this take so long?” Trahant said.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill said she sees no obstacles to approving the plan but was not ready to issue a ruling. Mark Mintz, an attorney for the archdiocese, told the court the archdiocese would be prepared to transfer funds to the survivors’ trust by Dec. 26 if the plan is approved.
A ruling could come as soon as Monday, Dec. 8.