Victims' advocates question timing of Milwaukee archdiocesan bankruptcy filing

January 05, 2011

Representatives of sex-abuse victims are charging that the Milwaukee archdiocese chose to file for bankruptcy protection in order to avoid further disclosures of abuse by priests and cover-ups by archdiocesan officials.

The archdiocese announced on January 4 that it would seek bankruptcy protection, explaining that the move was prompted by sex-abuse claims. The announcement came after the failure of mediation efforts designed to produced an out-of-court settlement with dozens of victims.

The New York Times notes that the bankruptcy proceedings will entail a long-- possibly permanent-- halt in other legal proceedings.

The bankruptcy filing comes just before the deposition of an important church official, Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Sklba, who until his recent retirement served alongside three successive archbishops of Milwaukee. A lawyer for Bishop Sklba was trying to have that deposition sealed.

 

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Further information:

• Milwaukee Archdiocese Seeks Chapter 11 (New York Times)
• Milwaukee archdiocese to seek bankruptcy protection (CWN, 1/4)