Roman Catholic Diocese Fresno announced Tuesday that the parish had been filed with 153 claims for sexual abuse by clergy and voluntarily filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition.
The financial restructuring process came over a year after the parish announced its original intention to seek relief in the U.S. bankruptcy court.
Officials at Fresno Church said the action would help them avoid bankruptcy, while victims of abuse and their attorneys helped the parish escape justice with what they said was a delay strategy.
Church officials are scheduled to take place Monday in the Eastern District Court in Fresno, where they will have their next hearing before Judge René Lastreto II.
“I make it clear that this path is the only path that allows us to ensure that the claims of sexual abuse continue to continue within our parish while ensuring that there is a continued continuation of sexual abuse within our parish.” In a letter to the parishioners. “Our church must address the suffering of victims of sexual abuse by clergy.”
Although the church has not yet acknowledged the liability for all 153 claims, Brennan said the court would establish a fund to allocate survivors.
Jeff Anderson’s law firm represents 11 of California’s 12 dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and he said the proceedings help the diocese and bishops avoid liability.
“By forcing survivors to enter bankruptcy court, they again deny liability.” In a statement. “But we will stand with the survivors for a comprehensive measure of truth, justice and healing that they deserve.”
In May 2024, the church admitted to filed more than 150 claims for sexual abuse General Assembly Act 218 Promulgated in January 2020.
AB 218 issued a three-year civil sexual assault claim, which was issued regularly due to restrictions.
Under legislation, the deadline for filing a claim.
Attorney Jennifer Stein said that all 50 clients of the company filed a lawsuit directly due to AB 218’s AB, filed a lawsuit in 2019, filed for the passage of the General Assembly bill.
Most victims are always “scarred” by the trauma caused by the abuse of clergy, she said.
“It’s the trauma of the entire career and academic career, relationships and marriage,” she said. “Every survivor has a story to tell because of their abuse, which is not stressful enough.”
Bankruptcy robbed victims of concern and turned court lawsuits into focus that could span years of property and corporate structure, Stan said.
“Bankruptcy is about the church’s ability to pay,” she said.
The parishes of Fresno include over one million Catholics in 87 parishes and 21 schools from Fresno, Kern, King, Inyo, Inyo, Mariposa, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare counties.
The parish has released 63 clergy and laymen accused in 2021as early as 1906, included the priests who were appointed.
Attorney Rick Simons filed a motion in court Monday calling for an investigation into Fresno’s bankruptcy notice. He said he believes that a lag of more than a year since May 2024 has been fraudulently delayed dozens of cases. Simons manages a legal lawsuit called the Northern California clergy case, in which nearly 1,800 lawsuits have been filed against seven Catholic dioceses, including Fresno.
Simmons told The Times that the church’s strengths include survivors’ death, fatigue, quitting smoking or greatly reducing their expectations.
He also noted that the church could have used this time to rearrange currency and property to ensure that certain funds or accounts are not part of the debtor’s property. According to Simmons, the declared bankruptcy intent also “stopped the jury trial and made progress while the case awaits bankruptcy.”
The church declined to comment on the allegations.
Church officials said they would not have an impact on primary and high schools that are open in the parish, together with Catholic charities and other regional branches.
Although diocese officials said they also did not expect the Catholic cemetery to have an impact, the properties were listed in the Chapter 11 application.
The parish acknowledges that the value of the parish assets that can be settled, including any available coverage, may not be sufficient to assume the claim and may render the parish unpaid.
The parish also confirmed that it did not receive any financial assistance from the Vatican.
