Buffalo Becomes 22nd U.S. Diocese to Declare Bankruptcy

The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo declared bankruptcy as it looks to settle over 250 lawsuits filed under the state’s modified Child Victims Act law

“We have no more urgent work than to bring about justice and healing for those harmed by the scourge of sexual abuse,” said Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo, in a statement. “The intense emotional, mental and spiritual pain inflicted on these innocent victim-survivors is a heavy burden they are forced to carry throughout their lives.”

New York passed a law in August 2019 that modified the statute of limitations and created a one-year window for child sex abuse victims to file lawsuits. That resulted in the Diocese of Buffalo facing nearly 250 lawsuits and counting.

Read more at ABC News

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