To address numerous lawsuits alleging decades of sexual abuse by its priests, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland has proposed the creation of a trust seeking to compensate survivors with at least $117 million. This plan comes on the heels of the diocese’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last year, a move that has drawn scrutiny and criticism from survivors and their advocates.
The Mercury News
reports that attorneys for the victims are labeling the proposal as both “pathetic” and “a scam and a sham”.
Bishop Michael Barber publicly expressed an apology “without reservation for the terrible suffering survivors have endured,” stating a commitment to survivor healing and safeguarding against future abuse within the church. Despite these words, the victim’s attorney, Jeff Anderson, is accusing the diocese of underestimating its assets, potentially misleading the public, claiming, as per
CBS News San Francisco
, “we believe the Diocese of Oakland’s bankruptcy filings undervalued its assets to deceive people, the parishioners, the public and the survivors.”
Survivors of the alleged abuse and their legal representatives argue that the settlement figures are inadequate when compared to other cases, particularly the $880 million settlement reached by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which did not file for bankruptcy. According to the coverage by
ABC7 News
, attorney Rick Simons conveyed the survivors’ disappointment, stating, “It’s a definite message and the message is ‘You are not important.’ The message is ‘We don’t care!'”. Furthermore, he criticized the payment structure of the proposed settlement for delaying full compensation over several years.
Amidst these contentions, the diocese insists on the fairness of their plan. “We are committed to continuing the mediation process while seeking approval by the bankruptcy court for the proposed reorganization plan,” wrote Helen Osman, a spokesperson for the diocese responding to allegations, reiterating a commitment to equitable compensation, as reported by
CBS News San Francisco
. Yet, Anderson and other advocates remain skeptical, given the diocese’s vast real estate holdings, which they assert have been undervalued in the settlement proposal with the end game of protecting church interests above those harmed.
Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply