PORTLAND (OR)
The Tablet
The bankrupt Archdiocese of Portland has suffered a serious blow in its struggle to keep parishes and schools from being closed to pay for massive clerical sex-abuse damages. A federal court ruled on 30 December that the parishes of western Oregon are not separate entities, but belong to the archdiocese. Parochial assets, which total an estimated $500 million (£290 million), can therefore be sold to pay for settlements being sought by plaintiffs. The archdiocese, which sought bankruptcy protection last year, has already paid out £30 million over 130 previous claims; this week a trial opened with alleged victims of a single priest, Fr Maurice Grammond, now dead, seeking £80 million.
Posted by kshaw at January 6, 2006 10:31 AM