BishopAccountability.org
	After Settlement Confirmed, Bishop Invites Abuse Survivors to Meeting By Georgia Bulletin Hull Daily Mail August 3, 2011 http://www.georgiabulletin.org/world/2011/08/02/NEWS-4/ WILMINGTON, Del. (CNS) -- Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Wilmington is inviting survivors of clergy sexual abuse to meet with him to discuss further healing and reconciliation following a U.S. bankruptcy judge's July 28 confirmation of a settlement plan that calls for the diocese to fund a $77.4 million trust to compensate about 150 survivors. Under the plan the diocese will distribute a total of $101.4 million to its creditors. In addition to the $77.4 million, the Lay Employees' Pension Trust will be funded with $10 million, Allied Irish Bank will receive $9.1 million, and about $5 million will pay professional fees. Bishop Malooly said he was pleased that the U.S. approved the Diocese of Wilmington's reorganization plan "enabling us to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It is my hope and prayer that this plan will give survivors of clergy sexual abuse another means toward the healing that they so need and deserve, and enable us to live up to our commitments to our lay employees and creditors," he said in a July 28 statement. The diocese "will continue to assure that our parishes and schools are safe havens for our precious young people," he said. "We will continue to comply with the letter and spirit of the 'Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People' adopted by the Catholic bishops of the United States in 2002." Bishop Malooly apologized in his statement "for the innocence that was stolen from our brothers and sisters at the hands of men who were supposed to be looking out for their best spiritual interests. I invite any and all survivors to meet with me to discuss how I as bishop and we as church can promote further healing and reconciliation." The diocese expects to exit bankruptcy once the settlement trust is established within 60 days of the court's order approving the plan.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.