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	Parishes Weigh Options in Abuse Crisis Spokane - a Ruling Leaves It to Parishes to Say How Much They'll Help the Diocese Settle Claims By John K. Wiley The Sunday Oregonian June 18, 2006 http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf? /base/news/115052203698090.xml&coll=7 Spokane -- Eastern Washington Catholic parishes are planning their next moves after a judge ruled Spokane Bishop William Skylstad cannot sell churches and school buildings to satisfy clergy sex abuse settlements. In what was seen as a major victory for the 82 parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush ruled last week that individual parishes are not owned by the bishop and thus cannot be sold by him to pay victims of abuse by priests. The ruling was closely watched by dioceses and individual parishes across the country caught up in the Roman Catholic church's sex abuse crisis. Quackenbush reversed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams, who had ruled parish properties are owned by the bishop and could be liquidated to help settle victims' claims. Bob Hailey, co-chairman of the diocese's Association of Parishes, said parishes have never been opposed to contributing to the settlements. "We objected to the concept of holding parish properties hostage, so that if we fail to meet goals, we lose our churches," Hailey said. "The parishes are innocent victims just as much as those who were abused. Whatever settlement is reached needs to be a settlement that doesn't create a whole new class of victims: the people in the pews." Mediation is scheduled to begin July 7 in Reno. "The parishes are going to mediation with an open mind, and we're hoping everyone else is, too," said Ford Elsaesser, a lawyer representing the Association of Parishes. The diocese became the third in the nation to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2004, listing assets of $11 million against liabilities of at least $81.3 million, most from sex abuse claims. The Archdiocese of Portland became the first to seek bankruptcy protection because of priest-abuse litigation. Shaun Cross, a lawyer representing the Spokane diocese, has said parishes will be expected to play a significant role in any "global settlement" with the more than 100 people who claim they were abused. Capital campaigns could expect to raise about $8 million, but it would be a tough sell, Hailey said. "Every parish has the right to say yes or no," Hailey said. "It's going to take a voluntary effort on the part of every parish." The amount individual parishes are willing to contribute "is on the table," Elsaesser said, adding that parishes are not willing to liquidate as part of any settlement. David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the rulings by Williams and Quackenbush are a blow to abuse victims because they will reduce the amount of money available.
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