Full Version: Portland Archdiocese Bankrupt!
Portland Archdiocese files for bankruptcy
Do you believe this is in the best interests of all involved Church, Congregants and victims or
do you believe this is in the best interests of the Church alone?
How far should the responsibility for abuse reach, Regional, State, Country or the World Wide Catholic Church?
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Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., filed for bankruptcy Tuesday, the first U.S. archdiocese to seek federal protection from multimillion-dollar settlements in the clergy sexual abuse scandal.
The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 reorganization just moments before the opening of a civil trial by two plaintiffs seeking more than $155 million, charging they were abused by the Rev. Maurice Grammond, accused of molesting more than 50 boys in the 1980s. Grammond died in 2002.
Portland Archbishop John G. Vlazny posted an online letter to western Oregon's 356,037 Catholics Tuesday spelling out his reasons for filing and his reassurances that he is committed to helping heal victims of abuse. He cited $21 million paid on more than 100 claims in the past four years.
"This is not an effort to avoid responsibility," he wrote. "This action offers the best possibility for the Archdiocese: to resolve fairly all pending claims, to manage a difficult financial situation and to preserve the ability of the Archdiocese to fulfill its mission."
But "the justice question is not that simple or straightforward," says Mark Chopko, general counsel for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, because the line of creditors is not finite. It often takes decades for a victim of childhood sexual abuse to step forward.
The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 reorganization just moments before the opening of a civil trial by two plaintiffs seeking more than $155 million, charging they were abused by the Rev. Maurice Grammond, accused of molesting more than 50 boys in the 1980s. Grammond died in 2002.
Portland Archbishop John G. Vlazny posted an online letter to western Oregon's 356,037 Catholics Tuesday spelling out his reasons for filing and his reassurances that he is committed to helping heal victims of abuse. He cited $21 million paid on more than 100 claims in the past four years.
"This is not an effort to avoid responsibility," he wrote. "This action offers the best possibility for the Archdiocese: to resolve fairly all pending claims, to manage a difficult financial situation and to preserve the ability of the Archdiocese to fulfill its mission."
But "the justice question is not that simple or straightforward," says Mark Chopko, general counsel for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, because the line of creditors is not finite. It often takes decades for a victim of childhood sexual abuse to step forward.
Do you believe this is in the best interests of all involved Church, Congregants and victims or
do you believe this is in the best interests of the Church alone?
How far should the responsibility for abuse reach, Regional, State, Country or the World Wide Catholic Church?
Do you believe this is in the best interests of all involved Church, Congregants and victims or do you believe this is in the best interests of the Church alone?
Hard to say as the congregants and the church are one and the same, I doubt it is in the victims best interest.
How far should the responsibility for abuse reach, Regional, State, Country or the World Wide Catholic Church?
The problem is widespread and systemic, it is as much the fault of the College of Cardinals as it is a local bishop who moves a pedophile priest to keep everything quiet. That said the best thing the church could do is overturn the rulings the Second Lateran Council laid down in 1139 and allow priest to marry again. They would get more applicants and would not have to look the other way at immoral or unsavory behavior as they have had to for the last 50 years.
Hard to say as the congregants and the church are one and the same, I doubt it is in the victims best interest.
How far should the responsibility for abuse reach, Regional, State, Country or the World Wide Catholic Church?
The problem is widespread and systemic, it is as much the fault of the College of Cardinals as it is a local bishop who moves a pedophile priest to keep everything quiet. That said the best thing the church could do is overturn the rulings the Second Lateran Council laid down in 1139 and allow priest to marry again. They would get more applicants and would not have to look the other way at immoral or unsavory behavior as they have had to for the last 50 years.
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Do you believe this is in the best interests of all involved Church, Congregants and victims or do you believe this is in the best interests of the Church alone?
It isn't in the best interests of the victims, or congregants. It is an effort on the Church's part to dig itself out of a financial mess, just as declaring bankruptcy is for businesses or individuals.
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How far should the responsibility for abuse reach, Regional, State, Country or the World Wide Catholic Church?
If anything is a corporation, it is the Church. Following that thinking, I believe the responsibility should be borne by the worldwide Church. It is my church, but I have to say that they are reaping what they have sown--years of abuses covered up, denied, and priests that should have been defrocked, not transferred.
How far should the responsibility for abuse reach, Regional, State, Country or the World Wide Catholic Church? Ideally I believe the world wide Roman Catholic Church should pool it's resources and address each case on a case by case basis. I believe that this would allow the ministry to continue un-tethered as well as present a United Church that addresses it's failings as well as compensates the victims.
Do you believe this is in the best interests of all involved Church, Congregants and victims or
do you believe this is in the best interests of the Church alone? To allows the Diocese to stand alone in the face of fiscal disaster and declare bankruptcy is in the best interest of the World Wide Catholic Church (as it disassociates itself), maybe a bit in the interest of the Portland Congregants as they will continue to have a Church to go to, though the Victims will most likely suffer.
In the end I see why the Diocese must do this as the Ministry needs to continue, though I believe the Mother Church is miserably failing in it's role as the head of the faith, I am disappointed.
Do you believe this is in the best interests of all involved Church, Congregants and victims or
do you believe this is in the best interests of the Church alone? To allows the Diocese to stand alone in the face of fiscal disaster and declare bankruptcy is in the best interest of the World Wide Catholic Church (as it disassociates itself), maybe a bit in the interest of the Portland Congregants as they will continue to have a Church to go to, though the Victims will most likely suffer.
In the end I see why the Diocese must do this as the Ministry needs to continue, though I believe the Mother Church is miserably failing in it's role as the head of the faith, I am disappointed.
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