Baltimore Archdiocese's Bankruptcy Impacts Church Abuse Survivors

The Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, the oldest in the United States, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy just days before a new state law removing the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse lawsuits goes into effect. The archdiocese cited the anticipated increase in lawsuits as the reason for the filing, stating that bankruptcy is the best way to compensate victims given their limited financial resources. The bankruptcy filing halts all lawsuits against the archdiocese, and a judge will oversee the reorganization process. This move follows a trend of several dioceses and archdioceses in the United States currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.