PORTLAND (OR)
Reuters
By Teresa Carson
PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - A federal bankruptcy judge sent a group of priest sex abuse cases back to court on Wednesday for trial or settlement after an 18-month delay because of the Portland Catholic archdiocese's bankruptcy proceedings.
"I really hope we can move forward," federal bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris told the packed courtroom.
Facing huge financial claims from scores of priest sex abuse lawsuits, the Portland archdiocese became the first in the nation to file for bankruptcy in July 2004.
The archdioceses of Spokane, Washington and Tuscon, Arizona have since made similar filings as other Catholic archdiocese around the nation have scrambled to pay claims. In Boston the archdiocese has sold 60 churches and schools.