Bishop Joseph V. Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno, California, has announced that the Diocese will file for bankruptcy this summer in the wake of over 150 clergy sex abuse lawsuits.
In an open letter to the faithful of the Diocese, Bishop Brennan said that filing for bankruptcy will allow the Diocese to address the lawsuits, working to achieve its goal of treating claims with honesty, compassion, and equity.
“Requesting a court-supervised reorganization is the only path that allows us to meet the goals stated above. The reorganization ensures all victims are compensated fairly and funds are not depleted by the first few cases addressed,” Bishop Brennan wrote, continuing:
When I hear how many lives were affected by clergy sexual abuse, my heart truly breaks. I imagine many of you are dismayed by the news of our serious financial situation, but I ask you to let go of your distress and turn your hearts towards the victims of abuse.
Bishop Brennan said that California’s law briefly extending the time frame for victims to bring forward claims of childhood sexual abuse augmented the number of lawsuits filed against the Diocese.
“A recent development in the journey … is the California State law which opened a three-year window for individuals to bring forward otherwise barred or expired claims for sexual abuse suffered as a child,” Bishop Brennan said. “Since the closing of the filing window on December 31, 2022, we have been informed of 154 cases filed against our Diocese. The reopening of the window has made every Diocese in California susceptible to more claims.”
He added:
What we are facing gives us the opportunity to redouble our efforts in creating a safe environment for everyone in and out of the church and address real issues in atoning for the sin of clergy abuse against children.
As CatholicVote previously reported, several other Californian dioceses have recently filed or announced plans to file for bankruptcy. In April, Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of the Diocese of Monterey announced that the Diocese is considering filing for bankruptcy. Earlier the same month, the Diocese of Sacramento filed for bankruptcy as well.
The Diocese of Fresno has provided a list of frequently asked questions regarding Bishop Brennan’s letter that can be accessed on the diocesan website.