Buffalo Catholic Diocese Files for Bankruptcy
28 February 2020 - 6:59PM
Dow Jones News
By Ian Lovett
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y., filed for
bankruptcy on Friday, following a number of sexual abuse lawsuits
filed against it since August.
Buffalo is the 22nd Catholic diocese to seek bankruptcy
protections since 2004, when a wave of sexual abuse allegations
against the church began, and the second in New York since a new
state law last year temporarily lifted the civil statute of
limitations on child sexual abuse. The law, known as the Child
Victims Act, allows those who say they were sexually abused as
children to sue, no matter when it occurred.
In the bankruptcy filing, the diocese estimated its total assets
at between $10 million and $50 million and its liabilities at
between $50 million and $100 million. It has at least 200
creditors, according to the filing.
The former bishop of Buffalo resigned late last year following
accusations he covered up clergy sex abuse.
Write to Ian Lovett at Ian.Lovett@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 28, 2020 13:44 ET (18:44 GMT)
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