Catholic Diocese of Oakland mulls bankruptcy amid 330 sexual abuse cases

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

The Catholic Diocese of Oakland, which oversees 82 parishes in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to resolve about 330 sexual abuse lawsuits, according to a Thursday letter. Church leaders believe filing for bankruptcy protection will help pay out what is sure to be a mountain of legal costs, but survivors see it as the Catholic church avoiding responsibility.

The lawsuits come after a 2018 change in California law that opened a window from 2020 to 2022 for sexual abuse victims to proceed with legal cases, no matter when the abuse took place. The Oakland Diocese website claims that all but three of the cases occurred before 2003.

“After much prayer and thoughtful advice, I believe bankruptcy can provide a way to support all survivors in their journey toward healing in an equitable and comprehensive way. It will also allow the diocese to reorganize our financial affairs so we may continue to fulfill the sacred mission entrusted to us by Christ and the Church,” wrote Bishop Michael C. Barber in the letter.

Dan McNevin, who alleges that a priest within the Oakland Diocese sexually abused him as a child, does not believe Barber and the church have the survivors’ best interests at heart.

McNevin, who is now a representative for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests in Oakland, finds it hard to believe that the Oakland Diocese cannot afford to pay out the lawsuits brought against it. He pointed to the many Bay Area real estate holdings — including churches and schools — as proof that the diocese is financially viable.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/oakland-diocese-bankruptcy-sexual-abuse-cases-17847038.php

[RockRaven]

1. When deciding whether or not to declare bankruptcy over all of the kid-fucking your organization

has done and covered up, it's really important that the head person has engaged in "much prayer and thoughtful advice" before doing so. Thank goodness he cleared that up! Someone might have been concerned otherwise.

[TomDaisy]

2. oh this was the diocese that chimed in on twitter to support Archbishop Cordileone

when he said Nancy Pelosi shouldn't be able to receive communion

[SunSeeker]

3. They must not really believe in God...or Hell.

Because the teachings of Jesus are not kind to hypocrites.

[RSherman]

4. Albany, Santa Rose, Oakland Diocese all did the same

Last edited Sun Mar 19, 2023, 01:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Terrible! After decades of abusing their own congregants, then covering it up, finally the chickens have come home to roost. Also, St. Claire's hospital was closed and the employees were denied their pensions. They have been fighting for years to get what is rightfully theirs. In light of all this, the Diocese has chosen bankruptcy. Cowards. How about atoning, repenting, and making things right. The Bishop said he would like to hear their (victims & pensioners) "stories" and he would like to "walk their walk with them." Ugh. How smarmy. The Church just cares about economics, not people.


https://scrippsnews.com/stories/roman-catholic-diocese-of-albany-files-for-bankruptcy/

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/diocese-santa-rosa-bankruptcy-17839203.php#:~:text=The%20Roman%20Catholic%20Diocese%20of,over%20the%20past%20three%20years.

[Walleye]

5. I was in on story for the paper and an interview with a guy who had suffered abuse from a priest

I think it was the Boston diocese. Decades later he was still still suffering serious PTSD and other mental problems. He filed a lawsuit and won, and one of the things he bought with the money was a big old Harley and he delighted in buzzing the church on Sunday mornings. The suffering the victims endure lasts a lifetime

[SledDriver]

6. Thoughts and prayers

[malaise]

13. THIS

And the gullible parents who let them

[Earth-shine]

7. Nice outfits.

They make the men look so holy.

[malaise]

8. From Let us PREY To

You shall PAY!
Good.

[Takket]

9. How can a church get bankruptcy protection

When they don’t pay taxes because of the principle of separation of church and state??? Seems to me getting bankruptcy protection from the GOVERNMENT COURTS goes against that principle they hold so dear to avoid paying taxes.

[usonian]

10. It's called bankruptcy PROTECTION

Forgive us our debts, as we continue to support theocratic destruction of your rights.

[malaise]

12. Perfect

[Phoenix61]

11. Long overdue to strip them of their tax exempt status.

The abuses they allowed to happen are beyond abhorrent. The only thing more abhorrent is their continued claim to spiritual and moral superiority. Deal with them the same way they dealt with the KKK in Alabama. Sell their assets to cover the lawsuits.