The Diocese of Oakland on Monday filed for bankruptcy after it was hit with 330 sex abuse lawsuits, prompting fresh criticism from survivors who say the church move is disingenuous, especially because it really isn't broke.
A group advocating for survivors of abuse by Catholic priests said the church's move is a disingenuous way to avoid compensating victims.
Barber said that given the dioceses' "current financial resources," the church "could not shoulder the burden" of litigating hundreds of cases filed under the recent California Assembly Bill 218, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits against any institution accused of enabling abuse.
SNAP survivors said that Oakland does not deserve to declare insolvency because the Diocese owns a $200-million Cathedral and acres of land in Piedmont, Orinda, Lafayette, and Danville. But in addition to financial woes, Barber noted people aren't going to church as much anymore, either. In Oakland, he said Mass attendance dropped 42% in 2021 from 2019 due to the pandemic and was off 46% from the five-year average.
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