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	Bishop's Letter Aims to Reassure Diocese Abuse Claims: Money Donated for Development Will Not Be Used to Settle Lawsuits, Barnes Says By Bettye Wells Miller The Press-Enterprise [San Bernardino CA] March 4, 2007 http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_bishop05.3d2c598.html Bishop Gerald R. Barnes assured Roman Catholics in the Diocese of San Bernardino on Sunday that money they have donated to build new churches will not be used to settle cases of clergy sexual abuse. In a letter read in Inland parishes over the weekend, Barnes said the diocese does not expect to file for bankruptcy as the Diocese of San Diego did last week. That filing, announced in a pastoral letter by San Diego Bishop Robert Brom on Tuesday, abruptly halted more than 140 lawsuits there just as a trial was scheduled to begin. The Diocese of San Bernardino is named in at least 17 pending lawsuits by people who claim to have been sexually abused by priests, including some that target the San Diego Diocese. "I believe we have sufficient insurance coverage and indemnification to (ensure) we can compensate victims and continue to carry on our mission of preaching the gospel," Barnes said in his letter. The Diocesan Development Fund is incorporated separately "and will not be used to settle cases of clergy sexual abuse," the bishop said. That fund is used to buy land and build churches, said the Rev. Howard Lincoln, spokesman for the 1.2-million member diocese. Brom said in his letter last week that the San Diego diocese offered to settle the outstanding lawsuits with an amount of money "that would have stretched our financial capability to the limit, but demands were made which exceeded the financial resources of both the diocese and our insurance carrier." Those suing the San Diego diocese and victims' advocates criticized the bankruptcy as a delaying tactic that also prevents public disclosure of the role church leaders played in protecting priests accused of sexual misconduct. Barnes asked Inland Catholics to pray for the San Diego diocese, "most especially the victims and their families. Please pray and support your many fine priests who daily serve your needs, but also feel the shame, embarrassment and betrayal of their brothers who have committed these crimes." Staff writer Mike Fisher contributed to this story. Reach Bettye Wells Miller at 951-268-9547 or bmiller@PE.com
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