FRESNO (CA)
Fresno Bee [Fresno CA]
May 29, 2024
By Joshua Tehee
Outgoing Diocese of Fresno Bishop Rev. Armando Ochoa and incoming Bishop Rev. Joseph Brennan urge victims of sexual abuse to come forward, report to police first
The Catholic Diocese of Fresno, which serves more than 1 million Catholic across the central San Joaquin Valley, will file bankruptcy in August — a move the church says is necessary to atone “for the sin of clergy sexual abuse.”
“Filing for Chapter 11 will allow us to address the substantial number of claims brought forth by victims collectively,” Bishop Joseph Brennan said in a statement and video message Tuesday. “It will allow us to address those claims honestly, compassionately and equitably.”
The diocese was already embroiled in allegations of sexual abuse among its clergy when Brennan became Bishop in 2019 — the same year it joined five other Catholic dioceses to create a compensation fund for victims of sex abuse.
It was hit with additional allegations following the passage of California’s New Child Victims Act in 2020.
The law created a three-year window for victims of childhood sexual abuse to bring forward claims that had previously been blocked by statute of limitations. That window closed in December 2022. Since then, 154 cases have been filed against the diocese, according to the statement from Brennan.
In 2021, the diocese reviewed records dating back to 1922 and released a list of dozens of priests who had credible accusations of sexual abuse of a minor while in service.
“What we are facing gives us the opportunity to redouble our efforts in creating a safe environment for everyone in and out of the church and address real issues in atoning for the sin of clergy abuse against children,“ Brennan said.
“Victims of abuse endure a lifetime of pain, and we as Catholics must commit to a lifetime of atonement.”
The bankruptcy will not affect the Catholic Charities and The Fresno Diocese Education Corporation, and will allow the church to continue operation of its schools, parishes and other organizations.
It will also ensure “all victims are compensated fairly and funds are not depleted by the first few cases addressed,” Brennan said.
SCORCHED EARTH TACTIC
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests quickly responded to news of the bankruptcy, calling for the diocese to reconsider what it called a “scorched earth legal tactic.”
The bankruptcy means victims will become creditors and the court will set limitations on how long those creditors have to come forward with claims, SNAP said in its statement.
“Despite persistent claims from Church officials that child sexual abuse in Catholic institutions (are) a thing of the past, this year SNAP has seen, on average, at least four news reports per month about the arrest of clergy or staffers for sexual abuse or misconduct,” it wrote.
“For those children being hurt in the Fresno Diocese today, this bankruptcy would deny them any chance of restitution for their life-long injuries.”
OTHER CALIFORNIA DIOCESES BANKRUPTCY
The Fresno Diocese isn’t alone in considering bankruptcy amid sexual abuse allegations.
The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento filed for bankruptcy in April. It faces it faces more than 250 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors by clergy and other employees reaching back to the 1950s, according to the Sacramento Bee.
The Catholic bishop of Monterey, whose district includes San Luis Obispo County, said his diocese could go also bankrupt from the more than 100 lawsuits lawsuits alleging childhood sexual abuse between the 1950s and 2002.