PORTLAND ARCHDIOCESE FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY

In a stunning development, the Portland Archdiocese announced on Thurday that it was filing for bankruptcy. The move became necessary, according to church officials because of the high cost of sexual abuse lawsuits. The Archdiocese of Portland has already paid more than $53 million dollars to settle over 130 claims dating back to the 1950's. The bankruptcy filing will apparently include 20 pending claims against the diocese. If the the Diocese elects to file a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Plan, the actions against it would be halted temporarily while the Church reorganizes. A bankruptcy filing however, could open up the Church financial record to intense scrutiny and possibly cause the Church to cede some control over its assets to the Bankruptcy Court.

Archbishop John G. Vlazny, after explaining that attempts at settlement had failed because the plaintiffs wanted too much money noted: "The pot of gold is pretty much empty right now".

Now there's a Christian attitude. Demean the plaintiffs, some of whom had been repeatedly raped as children by priests, as gold-diggers. The Catholic Church continues to show an appalling lack of compassion for the victims. And plaintiffs attorneys think the planned bankruptcy filing is simply posturing by the Church to avoid embarrassing details becoming public at a trial. David Slader, an attorney representing one of the plaintiffs, noted that the Archdiocese has over $500 million dollars in property, as well as countless investments. Strangely, a church spokesman declined to disclose the value of the church assets.

One of the alleged abusers, Maurice Grammond, was deposed prior to his death[after the Church had suspended him for failing to cooperate]. And his defense? He was the victim! Quoth Grammond in his depo: "I'd say these children abused me. They'd dive in my lap to get sexual excitement." His defense it appears, was that the children "wanted it". What a miserable, despicable, scumbag. Hopefully he died in jail.

The Church's response to this scandal, since day one, has been appalling. And this is the same church that denies communion to divorced Catholics who don't get annulments and politicians who don't blindly follow its edicts. Perhaps the Church should concentrate on straightening out what is happening inside the communion rail before trying to run the world beyond that same rail.