The Archdiocese of San Francisco has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it faces more than 500 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse.
“The unfortunate reality is that the Archdiocese has neither the financial means nor the practical ability to litigate all of these abuse claims individually, and therefore, after much consideration, concluded that the bankruptcy process was the best solution for providing fair and equitable compensation to the innocent survivors who have been harmed,” Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said in a Monday news release.
Just a reminder that, back in the 80’s, when the Church became aware that they had a major sexual abuse problem in the US, they took immediate action. They took out a few billion in insurance policies that would pay out sexual abuse claims (they got the insurance incredibly cheaply, too!). They destroyed files, or moved them to Washington where they became protected by diplomatic immunity. And they continued their practice of moving abusive priests to new locations without warning the parishoners and denigrating, ignoring, and threatening the survivors. They also made sure that each diocese was a separate entity, and moved as many assets into other organizations as possible.
They deny there is a problem, and viciously fight any blame, guilt, reparations or payments. When priests potentially face repercussions, they’re moved to other countries or “retired”, often out of reach out the justice system. If they’re forced to pay out, they rely on insurance to pay most of the money. If they themselves are forced to pay out, they immediately claim hardship and bankruptcy.
The Church is not to be trusted.
Absolutely. I live in Milwaukee where the local archdiocese already did the whole bankruptcy deal years ago. Somehow they got to pay a small pittance to the victims, get out of everything else, and they still own all of their (very lucrative) property. And that’s not just the church buildings, but their giant lakefront campus and no doubt tons of other non-house of worship property.
And that was after all of the documents were released showing the leadership was completely aware of the problem and covering it up just like everywhere else.
It’s a complete sham and abuse of the bankruptcy system.
I think Canadians had the right idea a few years ago.