SF Archdiocese Files for Bankruptcy Amid Child Sexual Abuse Scandals

San Francisco Diocese Files for Bankruptcy

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco has become the third diocese in the Bay Area to file for bankruptcy. This decision comes after facing numerous lawsuits under a California law passed in 2019, which allowed claims from decades-old incidents to be filed until December 31, 2022. The Diocese of Oakland filed for bankruptcy in May, while the Diocese of Santa Rosa was the first in California to seek Chapter 11 protection in March.

Majority of Claims Linked to Historical Sexual Abuse

The overwhelming majority of the more than 500 claims against the San Francisco Archdiocese are related to allegations of sexual abuse that occurred 30 or more years ago. These claims involve priests who are either deceased or no longer active in ministry, according to Cordileone, the Archbishop of San Francisco.

Criticism from Survivors of Clergy Sex Abuse

The bankruptcy filing has been met with criticism from survivors of clergy sex abuse, who argue that it is an attempt to conceal information. Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing over 125 plaintiffs alleging sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, stated that Cordileone is using various tactics and legal maneuvers to avoid accountability. Anderson accuses Cordileone of refusing to identify offenders within the diocese and attempting to eliminate the California Child Victims Act.

Transparency Issues

Survivors of clergy sex abuse have highlighted the lack of transparency within the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Unlike other dioceses in California, the San Francisco Archdiocese has not released a list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. Jeff Anderson emphasizes that Cordileone has failed to identify offenders and is attempting to hide the truth behind the bankruptcy filing.

Archdiocese’s Response

In response to the criticism, 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.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
• Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18

The article discusses the bankruptcy filings of several Bay Area dioceses, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Francisco, due to lawsuits related to sexual abuse allegations against priests. This issue is connected to SDG 16, which aims to promote peace, justice, and strong institutions. Specifically, Target 16.2 focuses on ending abuse and violence against children, including sexual abuse. The indicator 16.2.3 measures the proportion of young women and men who have experienced sexual violence by a certain age. The article mentions that the majority of claims filed against the dioceses are related to sexual abuse allegations that occurred decades ago.

2. Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 5 – Gender Equality

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres
• Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months

The article mentions survivors of clergy sex abuse criticizing the bankruptcy filing as an attempt to hide the truth. This issue relates to SDG 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality and eliminating violence against women and girls. Target 5.2 specifically aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Indicator 5.2.1 measures the proportion of women and girls who have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological violence by an intimate partner in a specific time frame. While the article does not provide specific data on this indicator, it highlights the concerns raised by survivors of abuse.

3. Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels
• Indicator 16.6.2: Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services

The article mentions survivors of clergy sex abuse criticizing the Archdiocese of San Francisco for not releasing a list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. This issue is connected to SDG 16, which aims to promote peace, justice, and strong institutions. Target 16.6 focuses on developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. Indicator 16.6.2 measures the proportion of the population satisfied with their last experience of public services. The article implies that survivors and their advocates are dissatisfied with the Archdiocese’s lack of transparency in addressing the issue of clergy sexual abuse.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: kqed.org

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