San Francisco Archdiocese declares bankruptcy amid hundreds of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse
San Francisco Archdiocese declares bankruptcy amid hundreds of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse KCRA Sacramento
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San Francisco Archdiocese Files for Bankruptcy Amidst Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco has filed for bankruptcy in order to address over 500 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by church officials. This Chapter 11 protection filing will halt all legal actions against the archdiocese, allowing them to develop a settlement plan with abuse survivors, according to San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.
Financial Constraints and Bankruptcy Process
Archbishop Cordileone stated that the archdiocese lacks the financial means and practical ability to individually litigate all of the abuse claims. After careful consideration, they concluded that filing for bankruptcy was the best solution to provide fair and equitable compensation to the innocent survivors who have been harmed.
This bankruptcy filing makes the San Francisco Archdiocese the third Bay Area diocese to seek bankruptcy protection due to the numerous lawsuits filed under a California law passed in 2019. This law allowed decades-old claims to be filed until December 31, 2022. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland filed for bankruptcy in May, while the Diocese of Santa Rosa became the first in California to file for Chapter 11 protection in March.
Majority of Claims and Criticisms
The majority of the more than 500 claims are related to allegations of sexual abuse that occurred 30 or more years ago, involving priests who are no longer active in ministry or have passed away, according to Archbishop Cordileone.
However, survivors of clergy sex abuse victims have criticized the bankruptcy filing, viewing it as an attempt to conceal information. Attorney Jeff Anderson, who represents over 125 survivors in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, accused Archbishop Cordileone of using various tactics and tools to evade the truth. Anderson also highlighted that the Archdiocese of San Francisco is the only diocese in California that has not released a list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse.
Response from Archbishop Cordileone
In response, Archbishop Cordileone stated that a list of priests and deacons in good standing can be found on the Archdiocese website. He clarified that individuals under investigation for alleged child sexual abuse are prohibited from exercising public ministry and are removed from the list.
Archbishop Cordileone is known for his conservative stance within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In May 2022, he gained national attention by stating that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a San Francisco resident, would be denied Communion in his archdiocese due to her support for abortion rights.
The San Francisco Archdiocese serves approximately 440,000 Catholics in the counties of San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
- SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators for measuring progress towards the identified targets. However, the number of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by church officials can be considered as an indicator of the prevalence of such abuse. Additionally, the release of a list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse by the Archdiocese of San Francisco can be an indicator of transparency and accountability.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Number of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by church officials |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation | Release of a list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse by the Archdiocese of San Francisco |
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Source: kcra.com
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