Spokane Diocese Filing for Bankruptcy

Sexual abuse lawsuits are claiming yet another Catholic diocese in America, this time the Spokane, Washington, diocese. According to Bishop William Skylstad, they will file for bankruptcy by the end of November.

KOMO TV reports:

"In the end, Chapter 11 gives everyone a sense of finality and closure with fairness, justice and equity," Skylstad said in a news conference. "Valid claims will be settled. The diocese will continue its ministry." Skylstad, who is scheduled to assume the presidency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Monday, said filing for bankruptcy will suspend litigation and its costs on 28 sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the diocese.

The Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., and the Diocese of Tucson have already filed for bankruptcy protection. The Portland diocese filed in July, the same week a lawsuit was scheduled for trial. The Tucson diocese filed in September, saying it needed court protection because of legal costs from the cases.

Spokane isn't the first diocese to go into bankruptcy and they surely won't be the last. Years of ignoring the sexual abuse of children and abetting abusers by moving them around to new parishes is finally coming back to haunt the Catholic leaders responsible.

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