San Francisco Archdiocese files for bankruptcy as it faces more than 500 sexual abuse lawsuits

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The Archdiocese of San Francisco has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it faces more than 500 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse.

“The unfortunate reality is that the Archdiocese has neither the financial means nor the practical ability to litigate all of these abuse claims individually, and therefore, after much consideration, concluded that the bankruptcy process was the best solution for providing fair and equitable compensation to the innocent survivors who have been harmed,” Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said in a Monday news release.

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It's absolute bullshit that an organization as unfathomably, obscenely wealthy as the Catholic Church can break off parts of itself and pretend they're separate entities for the purpose of denying victims their due compensation.

I don't understand how people don't have the will to end the Texas two step bankruptcy

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Just a reminder that, back in the 80's, when the Church became aware that they had a major sexual abuse problem in the US, they took immediate action. They took out a few billion in insurance policies that would pay out sexual abuse claims (they got the insurance incredibly cheaply, too!). They destroyed files, or moved them to Washington where they became protected by diplomatic immunity. And they continued their practice of moving abusive priests to new locations without warning the parishoners and denigrating, ignoring, and threatening the survivors. They also made sure that each diocese was a separate entity, and moved as many assets into other organizations as possible.

They deny there is a problem, and viciously fight any blame, guilt, reparations or payments. When priests potentially face repercussions, they're moved to other countries or "retired", often out of reach out the justice system. If they're forced to pay out, they rely on insurance to pay most of the money. If they themselves are forced to pay out, they immediately claim hardship and bankruptcy.

The Church is not to be trusted.

Absolutely. I live in Milwaukee where the local archdiocese already did the whole bankruptcy deal years ago. Somehow they got to pay a small pittance to the victims, get out of everything else, and they still own all of their (very lucrative) property. And that’s not just the church buildings, but their giant lakefront campus and no doubt tons of other non-house of worship property.

And that was after all of the documents were released showing the leadership was completely aware of the problem and covering it up just like everywhere else.

It’s a complete sham and abuse of the bankruptcy system.

I think Canadians had the right idea a few years ago.

I’m no expert, but it seems like if they wanted to avoid all this they could have just not sexually assaulted all those kids.

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Let's not just run around spouting wild and crazy ideas. Have you prayed on this and spoken to God about it? Perhaps it was part of God's plan all along for those children. Bet you didn't think about that did you?

Or do the right thing when they know someone is molesting kids and get police involved.

Yeah having morals and principles aren't really their jam

The Catholic Church literally has rape litigation insurance.

It's a shame they haven't gone completely bankrupt.

I feel like sexual related crimes should not he included in bankruptcy, you know, like student loans.

I hope they have to sell every church and piece of land that they own.

Lol. They won't have to sell anything. This has been done before in other cities. They always seem to come out ahead, while the victims get pennies.

There was a post on Reddit awhile back... Of a real website... For sexual abuse insurance that the priests could use...

What the fuck.

Oh yeah you can insure anything, even after the fact. The company that owned the twin towers insured them after they fell; it's a literal bet that victim payouts won't be as high as predicted.

I'm not against the idea. It's not like pedophiles are gonna announce they are pedofiles at hiring. However if, like the catholic church, the organization knew or reasonably should've known the person was a pedophile and let them work with children they shouldn't get paid or if the organization failed to do a background check on someone.

I mean it sounds like normal [sexual assault] insurance for any business that hires people, but I'm pretty sure this one was specific to the church... Idk that creeps me out.

Good thing all these struggling small businesses were able to get covid relief loans. Most of them got to pay off their horrible pedo rape lawsuits with the money!