Facing hundreds of lawsuits over sexual abuse claims, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland, Calif., filed for bankruptcy on behalf of the diocese, saying he hopes to “stabilize” the church’s finances and provide “just compensation” for victims, the Los Angeles Times reported. “It is important we take responsibility for the damage done so we can all move beyond this moment and provide survivors with some measure of peace,” Bishop Michael C. Barber said of the chapter 11 bankruptcy. “Sadly, for many, the pain caused by these horrific sins, no matter when they occurred, will never wash away, which is why we offer support to survivors and pray for their continued healing.” The diocese was facing more than 330 lawsuits alleging childhood sexual abuse mostly from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s by priests, Barber said. Other California-based dioceses also facing a wave of lawsuits have either filed or pondered filing bankruptcies in the past few months, including dioceses in Santa Rosa, Sacramento and San Diego.
