BishopAccountability.org
	Vermont Diocese Sells Its Hq to Settle Abuse Claims, While Milwaukee Files for Bankruptcy Protection to Avoid Its Responsibilities National Secular Society January 7, 2011 http://www.secularism.org.uk/126157.html The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington in Vermont has been forced to sell its headquarters building in order to pay compensation claims for sexual abuse in about two dozen lawsuits. The diocese has to raise $17.65 million to satisfy out-of-court settlements in these cases and several others that were being appealed in various courts. The building went for $10 million – substantially less than was hoped. The 32 acre property includes a 77,000 square foot four-story structure that once housed St. Joseph Orphanage. The diocese reached a $17.65 million out-of-court settlement in May in respect of 26 lawsuits alleging child molestation by priests in the state. The diocese also agreed to pay undisclosed amounts to settle three cases that were on appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the diocese of Milwaukee in Oregon has filed for bankruptcy protection as it struggles to come to terms with the huge amounts of money it will be forced to pay to victims of abuse by its priests. The move has not impressed survivors' support groups. David Clohessy, national director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests was adamant that "this is about protecting church secrets, not church assets". "The goal here is to prevent top church managers from being questioned under oath about their complicity, not 'compensating victims fairly.'" Milwaukee has an annual operating budget of about $24 million. It is the eighth Catholic diocese in the United States to declare bankruptcy in response to the clergy sex abuse scandal. The others are: Tucson, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; Spokane, Washington; Fairbanks, Alaska; Wilmington, Delaware; San Diego, California; and Davenport, Iowa.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.