Bankruptcy Judge Frustrated with Gallup Diocese Case

By Chelo Rivera
KRQE
October 19, 2015

http://krqe.com/2015/10/19/bankruptcy-judge-frustrated-with-gallup-diocese-case/

A judge says he is getting frustrated as a New Mexico diocese nears its second year in bankruptcy court.

The Gallup Independent reports that U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David T. Thuma said during a Thursday court hearing that he’s not pleased the Diocese of Gallup’s case is still going on.

He agreed to the diocese’s request to postpone its final hearing, originally scheduled for next month. He scheduled a status conference in its place.

Thuma hasn’t yet ruled on a request from Phoenix attorney Robert E. Pastor, who represents 18 people who say they were sexually abused by the diocese’s clergy.

Pastor wants to pursue two or three sexual abuse lawsuits filed in Flagstaff before the Gallup Diocese declared bankruptcy, but a stay currently prevents civil cases against the diocese after the final bankruptcy hearing.