Abuse victims apparently bent on destruction of the Catholic Church
Reading through the headlines today, I noticed this: "Bankruptcy judge rules parish assets available to victims".
Victims of abuse from Catholic clergy are suing dioceses across the country with the help of lawyers, hoping they'll force the church to pay up.
The legal crusades have been draining many dioceses' resources, and some dioceses are filing for bankruptcy protection in the hopes they can protect what assets they have left - such as individual parishes. But, unfortunately:
That's what this is coming down to. Shuttering individual parishes so that victims can collect a big payoff. Of course:
The closing of individual parishes could lead to the possible closing of entire dioceses. As parishes and dioceses fold, the Catholic Church itself will begin to collapse. Parish communities that have been around for decades will no longer be able to serve parishioners. They'll be sold off to pay off victims.
Many parish properties could end up in the hands of developers who will tear the churches down to build new homes, condominiums, apartments, or retail.
The victims have gone too far. Now they're the ones who are victimizing others. Why should individual Catholics be punished? Why should individual churchgoers, who have done nothing to harm the victims, lose their parish communities?
And it's not just parishes. Parochial schools - cemeteries - any properties the church has are apparently up for grabs.
It's not about church leaders any more. It's about bringing down the entire Catholic Church. Catholics everywhere should come together to figure out how to protect their individual parishes from being destroyed by lawyers for abused victims. Decentralizing the diocese, while preserving it, is probably the best way to go.
This crusade to squeeze every last penny out of the Catholic Church is regrettable and lamentable. It's too bad that all the victims and their lawyers can see are dollar signs.
Victims of abuse from Catholic clergy are suing dioceses across the country with the help of lawyers, hoping they'll force the church to pay up.
The legal crusades have been draining many dioceses' resources, and some dioceses are filing for bankruptcy protection in the hopes they can protect what assets they have left - such as individual parishes. But, unfortunately:
A federal bankruptcy judge ruled Friday that all the parish churches, parochial schools and other property of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane can be liquidated to pay victims of sexual abuse by priests.All the parish churches can be liquidated to pay victims.
That's what this is coming down to. Shuttering individual parishes so that victims can collect a big payoff. Of course:
Lawyers for victims said church leaders must be punished for allowing pedophile priests to prey on children for so long.The problem is they're not punishing Catholic leaders any more. They are punishing individual Catholics.
The closing of individual parishes could lead to the possible closing of entire dioceses. As parishes and dioceses fold, the Catholic Church itself will begin to collapse. Parish communities that have been around for decades will no longer be able to serve parishioners. They'll be sold off to pay off victims.
Many parish properties could end up in the hands of developers who will tear the churches down to build new homes, condominiums, apartments, or retail.
The victims have gone too far. Now they're the ones who are victimizing others. Why should individual Catholics be punished? Why should individual churchgoers, who have done nothing to harm the victims, lose their parish communities?
And it's not just parishes. Parochial schools - cemeteries - any properties the church has are apparently up for grabs.
It's not about church leaders any more. It's about bringing down the entire Catholic Church. Catholics everywhere should come together to figure out how to protect their individual parishes from being destroyed by lawyers for abused victims. Decentralizing the diocese, while preserving it, is probably the best way to go.
This crusade to squeeze every last penny out of the Catholic Church is regrettable and lamentable. It's too bad that all the victims and their lawyers can see are dollar signs.
