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KQED's Forum

San Francisco Catholic Diocese Bankruptcy Filing Leaves Clergy Abuse Survivors in Limbo

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 30 August 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Faced with more than 500 lawsuits stemming from clergy sexual abuse, the San Francisco Catholic diocese last week said it had no choice but to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone wrote, “the bankruptcy process is the best way to provide a compassionate and equitable solution” for abuse survivors. But victims say the bankruptcy is just a ploy to deprive them of justice and their day in court. San Francisco’s move to seek bankruptcy relief follows similar filings by the Oakland and Santa Rosa dioceses, following multiple clergy abuse lawsuits. Across the country, more than 30 dioceses have have sought bankruptcy protection. We’ll talk with experts about what it all means for the church, its faithful, and abuse survivors. Guests: Sophia Bollag, reporter, San Francisco Chronicle Michael O'Loughlin, national correspnodent and associate editor, America: The Jesuit Review - O'Loughlin has covered the Catholic church for both the Boston Globe and Crux. He is the author of "Hidden Mercy: AIDS, Catholics and the Untold Stories of Compassion in the Face of Fear" Joey Piscitelli, northwest group leader, SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) - Piscitelli, a survivor of clergy abuse, won a judgment against the Salesian order following a trial in 2006 in Contra Costa County Marie Reilly, professor of Law, Penn State University - Reilly is an expert in bankruptcy. Her published work includes studies of Catholic dioceses in bankruptcy Rick Simons , attorney, Simons is counsel or co-counsel on 75 individual clergy abuse lawsuits filed in Northern California. He also serves as the Northern California court liaison for the 1,600 clergy abuse cases filed against various Northern California dioceses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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From KQED From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.

0:49.1

Faced with more than 500 lawsuits stemming from clergy, sexual abuse, the San Francisco

0:53.7

Catholic diocese last week

0:55.4

said it had no choice but to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

1:00.3

It follows similar moves by diocese here and around the nation, and all that raises

1:05.3

the question.

1:06.5

Can abuse survivors get justice or something like it through a bankruptcy proceeding.

1:11.6

What does it mean for people who have pending lawsuits and people who simply go to church here

1:15.6

in the city?

1:16.6

We'll talk about why these bankruptcies are happening now and what survivors can expect as the

1:21.6

bureaucratic wheels begin to turn.

...

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