The Catholic Diocese of Oakland announced on Monday that it filed for bankruptcy amid 330 sex abuse lawsuits in an effort to stabilize its finances, the group said.Â
Most of the claims center on sex abuse crimes that occurred in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s by priests who are no longer active in ministry or are deceased, the diocese said.Â
In a letter to parishioners, Bishop Michael C. Barber said the diocese believes “this process is the best way to ensure a fair and equitable outcome for survivors.”
“It is important we take responsibility for the damage done so we can all move beyond this moment and provide survivors with some measure of peace. Sadly, for many, the pain caused by these horrific sins, no matter when they occurred, will never wash away, which is why we offer support to survivors and pray for their continued healing,” he wrote.Â
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The bankruptcy will allow the diocese to “stabilize its finances and continue the sacred mission entrusted to us by Christ and the Church,” Barber added.Â
All Catholic schools that operate in the diocese will not be impacted, as they are separate legal entities and are not included in the filing. Vendors will also be paid for all goods and services delivered after the filing, the diocese said.
California had allowed time-barred and expired cases to be filed by alleged survivors, spurring the lawsuits. The filing comes as attendance for Catholic mass dropped 42% in 2021 and as the church deals with an aging clergy, the diocese said.Â
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California Assembly Bill 218 temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits against any institution accused of enabling abuse. Barber said the church “could not shoulder” the burden of litigating the hundreds of cases.Â
The Survivors Network, known as SNAP, said the bankruptcy is an attempt to deny…
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