Catholic World News News Feature

Alaskan diocese to enter bankruptcy February 15, 2008

The Catholic diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska, has announce plans to file for bankruptcy protection, becoming the 6th diocese in the US to take that step as a result of sex-abuse lawsuits.

Bishop Donald Kettler of Fairbanks said that bankruptcy was the only viable option because of the legal expenses facing the diocese from more than 150 claims of sexual abuse by clerics, dating back to the 1950s. A lawyer for victims of abuse noted that 135 cases still await resolution.

The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, and the dioceses of Tucson, Arizona; Spokane, Washington; and Davenport, Iowa preceded the Fairbanks diocese into federal bankruptcy courts. The Diocese of San Diego, California, filed for bankruptcy protection last year, but dropped the case after reaching a settlement with sex-abuse victims.