A Roman Catholic diocese on Long Island, New York on Friday became the largest diocese in America to declare bankruptcy as a result of financial difficulties brought on by the sexual abuse scandals involving priests, the Associated Press reports.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre, with 134 parishes serving 1.5 million Catholics, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to more than 200 sexual assault cases and financial strain caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It is the eighth largest diocese or archdiocese in the United States.
“The financial burden of the litigation has been severe and only compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bishop John Barres said in a video statement posted on the diocese’s website. “Our goal is to make sure that all clergy sexual abuse survivors and not just a few who were first to file lawsuits are afforded just and equitable compensation.”
More than 20 Roman Catholic diocese in the US have declared bankruptcy because of the clergy sex scandal.