"Baltimore Archdiocese Declares Bankruptcy Amid Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits"

The Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy ahead of anticipated lawsuits over child sexual abuse. The filing comes as a new law is set to take effect in Maryland, lifting the statute of limitations to allow new civil lawsuits over older acts of abuse. The Archdiocese faces a significant number of lawsuits due to historic cases of child sexual abuse previously barred by Maryland law. Lawyers representing survivors criticize the bankruptcy filing as an attempt to evade accountability. The financial reorganization is expected to take two to three years, during which victim-survivors can file claims for compensation.