A Catholic Bishop Tries to Weasel Out of Paying for Sex Abuse Lawsuits
The Roman Catholic Church continues trying many different ways to avoid responsibility for all the priests it let sexually abuse children. One of these new ways was highlighted in a federal bankruptcy court judgment that went against the Diocese of Spokane, Washington. This was reported in the Aug 27 issue of the Spokane 'Spokesman-Review' in an article titled, "Judge Rules Parishes Owned by Diocese." The article said:
"A federal bankruptcy judge ruled today that Catholic churches and schools are legally owned by the Diocese of Spokane and therefore available to settle its bankruptcy case, a victory to the dozens of people who have sued the diocese for alleged sexual abuse."
The legal "angle" Bishop William Skylstad tried to employ to limit sex abuse lawsuit payments was quite brazen! Skylstad's argument in a July 25 letter to the diocese went like this:
"The properties are held in trust by the Bishop of Spokane, but do not belong to the bishop. I cannot sell the properties to satisfy judgments, for the simple reason that I do not own them."
His May 30 letter to the diocese said:
"The parishes are independent. They own themselves."
Bishop Skylstad is a LIAR!! He must be pretty desperate to stoop to this because Catholics and ex-Catholics KNOW better! Bishops have always had total control over diocesan properties. NOW......since Bishop Skylstad and his diocese face judgment about all those Catholic sex abuse crimes, he ALL OF A SUDDEN claims he doesn't have control over diocesan properties!
This is just another example of the two-faced nature of the Catholic Church.
(By the way, Bishop Skylstad is presently President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. This shows the type of "man" US Catholic bishops look up to!)
When I was a Catholic, I was personally involved in our church buying a new property. The contract was very specific about control over the property – control belonged to our diocesan bishop and any future successors as appointed by the Holy See (Rome). There was NO WAY we were "independent." I doubt the Spokane property contracts are any different.
Thank God the federal judge saw through this transparent attempt by Bishop Skylstad to avoid responsibility for the crimes of his church.
We thank God for once again exposing the wicked nature of Roman Catholicism. May many Catholics confess the sin of Catholicism, leave Rome forever, and receive Christ by faith ALONE for the full and free forgiveness of sins.
"A federal bankruptcy judge ruled today that Catholic churches and schools are legally owned by the Diocese of Spokane and therefore available to settle its bankruptcy case, a victory to the dozens of people who have sued the diocese for alleged sexual abuse."
The legal "angle" Bishop William Skylstad tried to employ to limit sex abuse lawsuit payments was quite brazen! Skylstad's argument in a July 25 letter to the diocese went like this:
"The properties are held in trust by the Bishop of Spokane, but do not belong to the bishop. I cannot sell the properties to satisfy judgments, for the simple reason that I do not own them."
His May 30 letter to the diocese said:
"The parishes are independent. They own themselves."
Bishop Skylstad is a LIAR!! He must be pretty desperate to stoop to this because Catholics and ex-Catholics KNOW better! Bishops have always had total control over diocesan properties. NOW......since Bishop Skylstad and his diocese face judgment about all those Catholic sex abuse crimes, he ALL OF A SUDDEN claims he doesn't have control over diocesan properties!
This is just another example of the two-faced nature of the Catholic Church.
(By the way, Bishop Skylstad is presently President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. This shows the type of "man" US Catholic bishops look up to!)
When I was a Catholic, I was personally involved in our church buying a new property. The contract was very specific about control over the property – control belonged to our diocesan bishop and any future successors as appointed by the Holy See (Rome). There was NO WAY we were "independent." I doubt the Spokane property contracts are any different.
Thank God the federal judge saw through this transparent attempt by Bishop Skylstad to avoid responsibility for the crimes of his church.
We thank God for once again exposing the wicked nature of Roman Catholicism. May many Catholics confess the sin of Catholicism, leave Rome forever, and receive Christ by faith ALONE for the full and free forgiveness of sins.
posted by Robt. B. at 5:07 AM
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