Archdiocese of San Francisco likely to file bankruptcy following hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits

FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO SAYS IT LIKELY IS GOING TO GO BANKRUPT AS A RESULT OF HUNDREDS OF SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS IT IS FACING. THE DIOCESE OF OAKLAND AS WELL AS SANTA ROSA FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS LAWSUITS. WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY SINCE IT BROKE THIS AFTERNOON. >> AFTER HUNDREDS OF LAWSUITS WERE FILED BY ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS, THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO SAYING IT WILL LIKELY GO BANKRUPT. IN A STATEMENT RELEASED FRIDAY, THE ARCHDIOCESE SAID SEVERAL MONTHS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF YOUR FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ADVISORS, WE HAVE IN 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. >> THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY. IF THEY ARE BANKRUPT, IT IS MORALLY. >> NEWS OF THE BANKRUPTCY HAS FRUSTRATED PEOPLE LIKE THIS MAN WHO SAYS HE WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED AS A CHILD. HE WORKS WITH A GROUP CALLED SNAP, A SURVIVING -- A SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS. ONE OF THE MAIN WORRIES BEING THE DELAYED PROCESS OF GETTING SOME FORM OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS. >> EVERYTHING STOPS FOR THE BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING. >> RICK SIMMONS IS AN ATTORNEY WHO CURRENTLY REPRESENTS AROUND 75 PEOPLE WITH SEXUAL ABUSE CASES. HE SAYS THE BANKRUPTCY FILING WOULD ALLOW THE ARCHDIOCESE TO DEAL WITH 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. >> WHILE THE PROCESS PLAYS OUT, MANY OF THE VICTIMS WILL BE WAITING, HOPING ONE DAY TO FIND CLOSURE AND SOME SENSE OF PEACE. >> THE CHURCH IS PRESENTING ITSELF AS THE PERSON WHO IS THE VICTIM HERE, AND THEY ARE NOT.

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 4,992

Keywords: news, abc, abc7news, Archdiocese of San Francisco, SNAP, file bankruptcy, Chapter 11, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, child abuse archdiocese, SF Archdiocese, clergy

Id: lKrahGOjhVU

Length: 2min 9sec (129 seconds)

Published: Sat Aug 05 2023