Talks end without accord between Milwaukee archdiocese, creditors in bankruptcy case
October 16, 2012
The Milwaukee archdiocese has failed to reach creditors—primarily sex-abuse victims—in a court-ordered mediation process. The archdiocese will now be forced back into federal bankruptcy court.
The court had directed archdiocesan attorneys to confer with creditors’ representatives, looking for a mutually satisfactory agreement. But the talks ended on October 15 without a resolution.
Jeffrey Anderson, the leading lawyer for sex-abuse victims, has told reporters that he will now press the bankruptcy court to release a series of confidential archdiocesan files, and to examine financial transfers made by the archdiocese in advance of the bankruptcy filing.
To date the archdiocese has resisted the public release of the files, which could shed new light on how Church leaders, including former Archbishop Rembert Weakland and his auxiliary, Bishop Richard Sklba, handled sex-abuse complaints. A spokesman for the archdiocese said that he is still hopeful that a settlement can be reached with creditors without further court action.
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Further information:
- Milwaukee Archdiocese, victims fail to reach bankruptcy settlement (Journal-Sentinel)
- Milwaukee Archdiocese, victims fail to reach deal (AP)
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