San Francisco Archdiocese Files for Bankruptcy to Address Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in response to over 500 civil lawsuits related to child sexual abuse. By declaring bankruptcy, the Archdiocese aims to consolidate the lawsuits into one settlement and avoid individual trials. However, the bankruptcy only applies to the corporate entity and does not affect individual church parishes or schools. This move has sparked criticism from abuse victims and their advocates, who argue that it prioritizes secrecy and self-protection.