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	Diocese's Bankruptcy Plan to Be Approved By John K. Wiley San Francisco Chronicle April 24, 2007 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/04/24/national/a153705D42.DTL&hw=catholic&sn=001&sc=1000 Spokane, Wash. (AP) — A plan to allow the Catholic Diocese of Spokane to emerge from bankruptcy and pay victims of sex abuse $48 million will be confirmed, a judge said Tuesday. The settlement requires Spokane Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, to support an end to statutes of limitations for sex-abuse crimes and write letters of apology to victims and their families. The order by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams will allow the Eastern Washington diocese to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy it entered in December 2005 in the face of numerous sex abuse lawsuits. "This moment marks a beginning of healing for the Catholic church in Eastern Washington," said Skylstad. About 150 people will qualify for payments. Each will receive between $15,000 to $1.5 million, depending on the extent of abuse. About $20 million will come from insurance settlements. The 82 parishes in the diocese will contribute a total of $10 million, while the remainder will come from the sale of church property. The plan also sets aside $1 million for future claims. The settlement was unanimously approved by the parties in the case last week. The 93,000-member diocese is among five nationwide that have sought bankruptcy protection against claims of clergy sexual abuse.
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