Oakland Diocese Latest to File Bankruptcy to Settle Abuse Suits

The Catholic diocese in Oakland filed bankruptcy to try and settle hundreds of lawsuits made possible by a California law that let survivors of childhood sexual abuse, for the first time, seek compensation in court for harm that occurred decades ago.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland listed more than $100 million in assets and liabilities in a Chapter 11 petition filed Monday in bankruptcy court. It joins numerous Catholic dioceses and religious organizations across the nation that have filed Chapter 11 in recent years to resolve sex abuse liabilities.

Religious organizations have been grappling with a wave of lawsuits ...