Harrisburg Diocese Becomes First In Pa. To Seek Bankruptcy After Paying $12M To Sexual Abuse Survivo

[mountaineer]

On the heels of the Boy Scouts filing for bankruptcy:

Harrisburg Diocese Becomes First In Pa. To Seek Bankruptcy After Paying $12M To Sexual Abuse Survivors
February 19, 2020 at 1:52 pm

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, six months after disclosing it had paid millions of dollars to people sexually abused as children by its clerics.

The diocese joins at least 20 others across the United States in seeking protection from creditors through the federal bankruptcy system, but it is the first diocese in Pennsylvania to take such a step. ...

The filing in Harrisburg federal bankruptcy court said the diocese “faces potentially significant exposure from remaining claimants” and wants Chapter 11 reorganization to provide money for unresolved claims and perform its ministry and other operations.

The diocese told the court it has more than 200 creditors and estimated liabilities between $50 million and $100 million, with assets of less than $10 million. It listed creditors that include a $30 million loan from the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority and 12 blacked-out names that were represented by lawyers. ...

Full story at KDKA

[Applewood]

I think we are going to see a lot of these bankruptcies.  One could say it's a way of avoiding having to pay up, but on the other hand, many Catholic churches are in bad financial shape to begin with.    Fewer members means fewer donations, and without those donations -- it's hard times.  And God forbid the Vatican will help out with all the resources they have.  So I have no idea how they are going to pay all these claims.

[mountaineer]

many Catholic churches are in bad financial shape to begin with.   

For sure. We've all seen the consolidation of parishes in recent years.

[EdinVA]

Hmm, same issue as Boy Scouts?  Must have let gays run the church...

[Applewood]

For sure. We've all seen the consolidation of parishes in recent years.

The parish in my neighborhood once consisted of five churches, plus a  12 grade catholic school.  The Catholic school is long gone and of the five churches, only one is used for one Mass on Sunday (at one time there were daily Masses and several Masses on Sunday at all five churches).  Recently, it was announced by the bishop that the parish  (what's left of it) is being merged with two other parishes.    There just aren't enough priests, members or money to keep all of these churches operating separately. 

[Applewood]

Hmm, same issue as Boy Scouts?  Must have let gays run the church...

So far, the Catholic Church forbids homosexuality.  But with the current pope, that might change.

[Night Hides Not]

So far, the Catholic Church forbids homosexuality.  But with the current pope, that might change.

As much as I admired the Jesuits I knew at Gonzaga, Pope Francis is likely to go down in history as the first, and only, Jesuit Pope. Here comes Pope Francis now:

[Absalom]

Core problem is the colossal incompetence of the College of Cardinals.
They refuse to properly vet and classify their colleagues so that an
embarrassment like Frankie could never become Pope. 

[sneakypete]

"Gimme that old time religion....."

[thackney]

Core problem is the colossal incompetence of the College of Cardinals.
They refuse to properly vet and classify their colleagues so that an
embarrassment like Frankie could never become Pope.

Does the College of Cardinals actually consider him an embarrassment?

[Absalom]

Does the College of Cardinals actually consider him an embarrassment?

---------------------------------------
Embarrassment is my label.
Further, his 'Catholicism' is erratic at best!

[sneakypete]

Does the College of Cardinals actually consider him an embarrassment?

@thackney

Do you really think those elitist sociopaths are even capable of understanding embarrassment?

After all,aren't they supposed to be infallible?

[Absalom]

@thackney
Do you really think those elitist sociopaths are even capable of understanding embarrassment?
After all,aren't they supposed to be infallible?

----------------------------
The only individual that is infallible is the Pontiff and only when he
is 'referencing Faith and/or Morals and speaking from his Chair'.

[sneakypete]

----------------------------
The only individual that is infallible is the Pontiff and only when he
is 'referencing Faith and/or Morals and speaking from his Chair'.

@Absalom

Thanks for clearing that up. I was under the impression all Priests were considered to be infallible by the followers. Especially the Cardinals and the Pope.

Makes more sense for it to be ran on a business model with the boss BEING "the BOSS" than to have others assuming they have similar power. After all,it IS a business.