Why Is The Catholic Church Allowed To Declare Bankruptcy And So Avoid Paying Sex Crime Victims?
The catholic church is the wealthiest institution in the world (worth even more than Bill Gates) thanks to property and art holdings, yet they are allowed to declare bankruptcy to avoid paying lawsuits related to pervert priests?
Tags: Allowed, Avoid, bankruptcy, Catholic, Church, Crime, Declare, Paying, Victims
February 13th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
They’re the worlds largest criminal organization.
They move pedophile’s around. They claim immunity to criminal charges. They hide funds because the government if forced to stay out of their business. Most of what they do falls under the RICO act.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
The Roman Catholic Church, while wealthy as a central agency, is essentially “incorporated” as smaller diocese which operate as distinct and separate legal and business entities. In some areas they are broken down even smaller as individual parishes too. What that means is that the central Catholic church is legally protected from the operations of its diocese and as such cannot be held responsible for any lawsuits. Its not just in the US and it’s not just with the Roman Catholic church either. It’s the same for the RCs all over the world and even the Church of England (Anglicans for the world, Episcopalians for the US) operate the same way.
It sucks for any victims but it makes sound business sense for anyone.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
The “catholic church” was not the defendant in the lawsuits.
The court judgments were against specific dioceses, or churches, NOT “the catholic church”.
The plaintiffs can only attach the assets of the specific defendants, e.g., the specific diocese, or church, or priest.
If someone sues you, they can’t take your grandparents’ money.
February 14th, 2010 at 1:35 am
Each diocese is financially independent. The individual diocese declares bankrupcy because they already have financial obligations to schools, hospitals, clinics, and other places that serve the people.
If teh churches were not allowed to declare bankrupcy, hospitals would shut down.
February 14th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Religions are businesses.