PORTLAND (OR)
Stuff
05 January 2005
PORTLAND: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, will launch an advertising campaign this week to encourage people sexually abused by priests in Oregon to come forward, according to a church spokesman.
"It is part of a normal bankruptcy procedure to notify" possible claimants, archdiocese spokesman Bud Bunce said.
In July, Portland became the first US diocese to file for bankruptcy. The move halted two trials seeking US$155 million in damages for plaintiffs who claim they were abused by priests.
A federal bankruptcy court has imposed an April 29, 2005, deadline for many abuse lawsuits to be filed. The advertising will let potential claimants know about the deadline, Bunce said.
"You may have a claim against the archdiocese" the ads will read.
Bunce said the archdiocese did not use an ad agency, but "we did put some effort into the ad itself. It will be eye-catching."
Posted by kshaw at January 4, 2005 05:09 PM