The Catholic Diocese of Syracuse reports that the federal judge overseeing its bankruptcy proceedings has indicated she will approve the latest reorganization plan with a $176 million fund to pay sexual abuse claimants.
The fund will include $100 million from the diocese and its parishes and entities, an amount that was agreed to in 2023. The final plan also includes $76 million from insurers.
In addition, the plan includes non-monetary items intended to strengthen protocols to guard against future abuse and assist survivors with healing.
The diocese originally filed for bankruptcy in 2020 in response to a growing number of sexual abuse lawsuits being filed against it. The number of lawsuits is now in the hundreds.
The plan has the support of survivors and victims of sexual abuse.
Judge Wendy Kinsella of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Northern District of New York is expected to formally approve the plan within days.
Bishop Douglas Lucia had this to say in announcing the development:
“The lesson contained in today’s gospel reading is most important to us in this moment. Jesus warns the religious establishment and leaders of his day against being ‘whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth – filled with hypocrisy and evildoing’ (see Matthew 23:27-28).”
The Syracuse diocese is not alone in seeking protection from sexual abuse claims following enactment of the state’s Child Victims Act. Catholic dioceses in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, and Rockville Centre have also resorted to bankruptcy.
Topics Legislation
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