The Diocese of Camden, N.J., and a lawyer for clergy sex abuse victims clashed Monday over the diocese's plan to reorganize its finances under chapter 11 protection, the Cherry Hill (N.J.) Courier Post reported. Attorney Jeff Anderson said that the reorganization plan would create a $10 million trust for victims, while directing more than $217 million to funds for other diocesan activities. "This plan has no relationship to their true ability to pay," said Anderson, who described the proposal as "a sneak attack" filed on Dec. 31. In a statement, the diocese said it "wants to continue to pay survivors rather than lawyers and other professional advisors." It claimed attorneys who handle clergy sex abuse cases "seem to want to elongate the process and see more money dissipated on wrangling." The diocese said it filed its plan in federal bankruptcy court in Camden after a committee representing victims refused to negotiate. Anderson, in contrast, contended the diocese acted "without any input from or consideration for clergy abuse survivors."
