SPOKANE (WA)
KGW
09/07/2005
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS / Associated Press
Victims of sexual abuse by priests were sharply critical on Wednesday of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane for appealing a bankruptcy judge's ruling that churches and parochial schools can be sold to pay claims filed by victims.
In an appeal filed late Tuesday in U.S. District Court here, lawyers for Bishop William Skylstad wrote that U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia C. Williams erred in her analysis in 11 areas and wrongly ignored evidence and centuries of religious law.
Lawyers for individual parishes facing potential loss of churches and schools joined in the appeal. Skylstad is the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the outcome of the Spokane case is likely to have national implications.
"Sadly, Skylstad is choosing combativeness over compassion, delay over closure, hardball over healing, and his own selfish needs over the needs of his diocese and its child sex abuse victims," said David Clohessy, national director of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, an advocacy group for victims.
Skylstad was out of town Wednesday and not available for comment, his office said. He said previously that he had to appeal because he has an obligation to the parishioners to continue the ministry of the Spokane Diocese.