Topic: TGComix - Merrin, Rochester diocese, facing flood of sex-abuse claims, files for bankruptcy
+Cardinal Theodore McCarrick — 6.7 years ago #54,049
Published 11:48 p.m. ET Sept. 12, 2019 | Updated 6:05 a.m. ET Sept. 15, 2019ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, facing potentially huge judgments for past sexual abuse by its priests and other ministers, filed for bankruptcy protection Thursday.
"This was a very difficult and painful decision," Rochester Bishop Salvatore Matano said at an afternoon news conference that detailed the action.
The diocese filed its petition for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Rochester at about 9:30 a.m. The petition estimates the diocese assets as $50 million to $100 million – and its financial liabilities as $100 million to $500 million.
Rochester’s diocese becomes the first of New York state’s eight dioceses – and the 20th nationwide — to seek protection from creditors in bankruptcy court
Because of financial fallout from the Catholic Church’s decades-long child sexual abuse scandal.
The intent of a Chapter 11 filing such as this is to reorganize the diocese finances, marshal funds to pay fair compensation to sex-abuse accusers and create a plan for the diocese to continue operations much as they were before.
Matano made it clear that the diocese sought Chapter 11 protection to shield itself from the impact of the legal claims, which he said could "exceed our resources."
The diocese encompasses 12 counties in upstate New York. An estimated 360,000 Catholics live within the diocese.
The bankruptcy filing is the direct result of a long-anticipated flood of litigation triggered by New York’s Child Victims Act.
The act, adopted by the state Legislature early this year, carved out a one-year window during which the statute of limitations is lifted and accusers can file legal claims for sexual abuse they suffered as children, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.
The window opened on Aug. 14. Since then, more than 580 lawsuits have been filed statewide, with the lion’s share of them accusing Roman Catholic priests, brothers, deacons or nuns of abuse.
Nearly all of those named as a defendant the diocese where the priest or other minister worked, arguing that diocesan officials were responsible for the abuser’s conduct.
Child sex abuse:
Through Wednesday, the Rochester diocese had been listed as a defendant in 59 legal claims filed under the Child Victims Act.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/14/new-york-child-victims-act-lawsuits/2007257001/
The diocese had $55 million in net assets as of June 2018, most of it in investments and cash. But the bankruptcy filing anticipates that the accumulating weight of abuse payouts could consume those assets and threaten the diocese financial foundation.
The estimated liabilities in the petition, of $100 million to $500 million, reflect that reality. Diocesan officials said that estimate was based in part on the demands for damages submitted to the diocese by claimants who have filed, or intend to file, abuse suits.
More than 100 such demand notices have been submitted, the officials said. One plaintiff’s lawyer, Leander James, said he expected between 150 and 250 suits against the Rochester diocese by the time the one-year window closes next August.
James has said bankruptcy reorganization can work out well for a diocese and for parishioners who were abused by Catholic clergy.
"Bankruptcy is a tool in the law, and like any tool it can be used for good or evil. I hope the bishop and his bankruptcy attorneys use this tool for the good of the survivors, the community and the protection of children," James said Thursday.
At the same time, some critics say a bankruptcy proceeding may limit the release of damning information about abuse and cover-up, leaving some victims feeling the process did not provide the public acknowledgment of their torment that they had sought.
"Settlements provided through bankruptcy court typically allow church officials to keep disclosures of abuse in house. Without having to report these allegations to the police or otherwise making them public, a full accounting of the number of abusers and who may have concealed or ignored those crimes can stay hidden," asserted a statement released by SNAP, a nationwide support group for victims of church sex abuse.
Nineteen other Catholic dioceses or archdioceses in the U.S., including those in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Milwaukee, San Diego and Portland, Oregon, have filed for bankruptcy protection over the last 15 years. Branches of three religious orders also have filed for protection.
The Rochester diocese bankruptcy filing halts all action on the civil suits that have been filed against it and shifts those claims to the bankruptcy proceeding. The court will set a deadline by which additional claims for historic abuse must be filed.
The bankruptcy proceedings of other dioceses have often taken two to four years to conclude.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/bishops/accused/global_list_of_accused_bishops.htm
Bishops Accused of Sexual Abuse and Misconduct A Global Accounting
+Anonymous B — 6.7 years ago, 56 minutes later[T] [B] #571,753
In b4 :)
+Anonymous C — 6.7 years ago, 6 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[T] [B] #571,754
@previous (B)
I welcome it. Every smile means "I can confirm that what you're saying is accurate." They've admitted to multiple accusations of pedophilia and once this site gets v&, he's gonna wish he hadn't done that.
I welcome it. Every smile means "I can confirm that what you're saying is accurate." They've admitted to multiple accusations of pedophilia and once this site gets v&, he's gonna wish he hadn't done that.
+Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U — 6.7 years ago, 55 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[T] [B] #571,760
Bishop.accountability.org eh? Sounds like an impartial site :)
+Anonymous E — 6.7 years ago, 4 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,761
·Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U — 6.7 years ago, 2 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,762
@previous (E)
I don't confirm or deny anything on these boards. I give out information on my own terms :)
I don't confirm or deny anything on these boards. I give out information on my own terms :)
+Negi Springfield !aeNZeP7XP2 — 6.7 years ago, 10 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,763
·Anonymous E — 6.7 years ago, 11 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,764
@571,762 (Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U)
> I don't confirm or deny anything on these boards. I give out information on my own terms :)
So you plead the 5th on the allegation of being a child molester?
> I don't confirm or deny anything on these boards. I give out information on my own terms :)
So you plead the 5th on the allegation of being a child molester?
+Anonymous G — 6.7 years ago, 5 hours later, 7 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,790
·Anonymous E — 6.7 years ago, 22 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,791
·Anonymous B — 6.7 years ago, 52 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,792
+Anonymous H — 6.7 years ago, 2 hours later, 11 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,806
·Anonymous B — 6.7 years ago, 35 minutes later, 12 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,808
+Anonymous I — 6.7 years ago, 12 minutes later, 12 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,809
@previous (B)
Being the autistic madspamming Awesome Life Guy is enough to make everyone here hate you.
Being the autistic madspamming Awesome Life Guy is enough to make everyone here hate you.
·Anonymous B — 6.7 years ago, 2 minutes later, 12 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,810
+Anonymous J — 6.7 years ago, 1 hour later, 13 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,815
+Anonymous K — 6.7 years ago, 9 minutes later, 13 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,821
How come Merrin never supports the abused children, other than to bend them over.
·Anonymous E — 6.7 years ago, 1 hour later, 15 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,825
@previous (K)
> How come Merrin never supports the abused children, other than to bend them over.
He supports them by either holding their hips while bending them over, or lets them hold onto the back of a chair for support.
> How come Merrin never supports the abused children, other than to bend them over.
He supports them by either holding their hips while bending them over, or lets them hold onto the back of a chair for support.
+Anonymous L — 6.7 years ago, 4 hours later, 19 hours after the original post[T] [B] #571,832
I support the death penalty on the first conviction, for any child molester.
·Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U — 6.7 years ago, 11 hours later, 1 day after the original post[T] [B] #571,877
@571,764 (E)
> > I don't confirm or deny anything on these boards. I give out information on my own terms :)
>
> So you plead the 5th on the allegation of being a child molester?
Poland doesn't have the 5th Amendment.
> > I don't confirm or deny anything on these boards. I give out information on my own terms :)
>
> So you plead the 5th on the allegation of being a child molester?
Poland doesn't have the 5th Amendment.
·Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U — 6.7 years ago, 15 seconds later, 1 day after the original post[T] [B] #571,878
·Negi Springfield !aeNZeP7XP2 — 6.7 years ago, 6 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[T] [B] #571,890
·Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U — 6.7 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[T] [B] #571,896
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