Archdiocese of San Francisco likely to file bankruptcy following hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits
San Francisco Archdiocese likely to file bankruptcy following hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits involving Roman Catholic church WLS-TV
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SAN FRANCISCO ARCHDIOCESE LIKELY TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY
SAN FRANCISCO — After hundreds of lawsuits were filed by alleged sexual abuse victims, the Archdiocese of San Francisco is saying it likely will go bankrupt.
In a statement released Friday, the archdiocese said in part:
“For several months now, with the assistance of our financial and legal advisors, we have been investigating the best options for managing and resolving these cases. After much contemplation and prayer, I wish to inform you that a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization is very likely.”
MORE: Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese files for bankruptcy citing child sexual abuse cases
Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- The bankruptcy filing by the Archdiocese of San Francisco has significant implications for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality, and Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
- Goal 5 aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual abuse. The lawsuits filed by victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church highlight the urgent need to address this issue and ensure justice for survivors.
- Goal 16 seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The bankruptcy filing presents an opportunity for the archdiocese to collectively address the numerous cases of sexual abuse, potentially leading to a more efficient and fair resolution process.
News of the bankruptcy has frustrated people like Joey Piscitelli.
“They have hundreds of millions of dollars in property. They’re not bankrupt. If they’re bankrupt, it’s morally,” Piscitelli said.
MORE: Diocese of Oakland files for bankruptcy after over 330 child sexual abuse lawsuits
Piscitelli said he was sexually abused as a child.
He now works with a group called SNAP, or the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
For Piscitelli, the potential bankruptcy filing causes several worries. One of the main ones is the delayed process of getting some form of justice for victims.
MORE: Oakland Catholic Diocese files motion to keep names of accused child sex abusers secret
“Everything stops for the bankruptcy proceeding,” Rick Simons said.
Simons is an attorney who currently represents around 75 people with sexual abuse cases.
He said, if it happens, the bankruptcy filing will allow the archdiocese to deal with the hundreds of cases collectively instead of one by one.
“I think the chance that they are not compensated at all is very low. The chance that they are not compensated fairly is very high,” Simons said.
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