Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes announced today that the Archdiocese of Agana will file for bankruptcy to help settle nearly 200 clergy sex abuse claims by former altar boys, the Pacific Daily News reported. The chapter 11 filing is expected to be filed by mid-December to mid-January. It proposes a plan for the archdiocese to reorganize and pay its creditors most especially those who brought claims of child sexual abuse. The Archdiocese of Agana is the 20th Catholic diocese in the United States to file for bankruptcy, since 1994, to help settle clergy sex abuse claims, according to North Idaho-based bankruptcy Attorney Ford Elsaesser, who was tapped by the archdiocese to help in the process. He said there had not been substantial disruption in the mission of the church, their schools and other Catholic community activities for these diocese that filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Elsaesser said once the Archdiocese of Agana files for bankruptcy, there will be a "bar date period," which takes four to five months or up to about May 2019, for additional clergy sex abuse claims to be filed.
