Will bankruptcy keep the diocese from keeping its promise to heal? | Opinion

November 09, 2020

By Mark Crawford

Bishop Sullivan of the Camden Diocese recently announced the intent to file chapter 11 bankruptcy protections citing a decline in church revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the filing of lawsuits by clergy abuse victims who were finally granted access to our courts when New Jersey revised its statute of limitations for the sexual victimization of children and adults last year. The new law opened a two-year window allowing any victim of sexual abuse to pursue a claim regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred or how old the victim is today.

In September of 2018, the New Jersey Attorney General launched a statewide investigation of the five Catholic dioceses regarding the handling of clerics who abused children. That office launched a hotline (855-363-6548) for victims to report allegations of sexual abuse by New Jersey clerics. Our bishops, facing a statewide investigation and the new statute of limitations, offered victims a way to minimize legal actions by offering an Independent Victims Compensation Plan (IVCP) to victims. Victims' claims could be settled within months instead of years, if victims commit never to seek legal action against the diocese, any catholic entity for any actions or omissions past, present or in the future, known or unknown.

Victims, who perhaps wanted to avoid a protracted legal battle and answered the bishops call to come forward and tell their painful stories of sexual abuse, are now betrayed yet again as the Camden bishop seeks court protection from all claims. Such action immediately stops all civil actions, stops the court ordered production of documents and limits the time victims have to come forward. They are hoping the courts will help them reduce their financial liabilities to victims by lumping those demands with all other creditors.

When the IVCP was offered to victims of clergy abuse, Bishop Dennis Sullivan stated, “This program, promised by me and my fellow Bishops…is intended to provide an opportunity for victims who have long carried the burden of victimization, to find tangible support and recognition of the pain caused by these sinful priests.”

Bishop Sullivan also said, “no public money will be used to pay eligible claims.” What property was sold, how would insurance pay claims that were never reviewed? Diocesan assets do not include any of the Camden diocese parishes or schools, as they are incorporated as separate entities, even though a significant portion of weekly contributions are required to be paid to the diocese, which makes the decisions on what schools and parishes remain open or closed. The Camden diocese claims it has paid out approximately $10 million to victims since 1990.

Certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses in many ways but the diocese continues to have many revenue streams to sufficiently weather such debts. They have urged the faithful to continue their Sunday donations even when the pandemic forced the suspension of Sunday services. Schools, hospitals, cemeteries, and charitable campaigns are just some additional revenue sources. The multiyear Camden diocese “Catholic Strong” giving initiative, in which Bishop Sullivan has set a minimum $50 million goal, has so far raised well over $40 million to date and will run thru 2024.

This year the Camden Diocese’s annual bishop’s appeals theme is “Who is My Neighbor” the bishop declares the money raised is to provide “care, respect, justice, peace and dignity for every soul in the Camden Diocese.” It clearly appears he has changed his mind or does not consider victims of clergy abuse to be members of his diocese. The message is victims of clergy abuse will come last.

There is no doubt, this is not a Christian response, it’s a legal one. Once again, they are deploying hardball legal tactics to avoid accountability and to conceal the whole truth they have managed to hide for decades. Once again, they are betraying victims of child sexual abuse by clergy and the church officials who protected these clerics. Such actions are indeed about bankruptcy, morally bankruptcy.

Mark Crawford, a clergy abuse survivor and advocate, is the state leader of SNAP.

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Zach Hiner published this page in News Story of the Day 2020-11-09 08:46:14 -0600

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2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’

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