NBC Sandiego
March 1, 2007
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/11149459/detail.html
The Catholic Diocese revealed its finances in bankruptcy court Thursday, but lawyers for the alleged victims of sexual abuse accused the church of "legal trickery" to protect its bank accounts.
Hundreds of San Diego properties are now in dispute, as the Catholic Church seeks protection in court, NBC 7/39 reported.
The bankruptcy filing came Tuesday, just hours before a jury was scheduled to hear the first case of alleged sexual abuse by local priests.
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The diocese could claim that under church or "canon" law, many of the buildings are owned by individual parishes and cannot be sold to pay alleged victims.
But according to attorney Irwin Zalkin, who represents the alleged victims, the diocese is keeping off its disclosure list properties including vacant land, warehouses, townhomes, and apartment buildings.
The diocese has maintained it is hiding nothing.
The bankruptcy judge urged both sides to continue to work to settle their legal battles.
On Thursday, both sides did agree on motions that would allow the diocese to continue paying its employees and its utility bills.
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