After consulting with its financial and legal advisors over the past several months, the Archdiocese determined that a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization is the best option for managing and resolving these cases. It will allow the Archdiocese to achieve two very important goals.

First, the Chapter 11 process brings all parties together to resolve difficult claims fairly and equitably under the supervision of the bankruptcy court. Cases will be dealt with collectively rather than one at a time. This will result in a faster resolution for survivors, providing them with fair compensation and closure. It eliminates a scenario where the first few cases that are resolved expend all available resources to pay claims, leaving nothing for survivors whose cases are resolved later. 

Secondly, Chapter 11 allows the Archdiocese to reorganize its financial affairs to continue its vital ministries to the faithful and to the communities that rely on its services and charity.

Only The Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco, a Corporation Sole, is included in the filing. Parishes, schools, and other ministries associated with the Archdiocese are not included.  The operations of parishes and schools will continue as usual without disruption, as will the activities of the Archdiocese. Other ministries, such as St. Patrick’s Seminary & University, Catholic Charities, and our cemeteries will also continue their operations as usual.

No, the Chapter 11 filing should not have any direct effect on jobs in the Archdiocese.  Employees of companies and non-profit organizations that file to restructure under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code continue to work and receive their wages and benefits during the process and beyond. As is the case in the past, employment decisions will continue to be based on needs, performance, and overall goals of archdiocesan ministries.

Chapter 11 is a legal mechanism for court-supervised reorganization or restructuring of an organization’s obligations.  Chapter 11 provides a way for an organization to address its financial condition in order to remain a viable entity, while continuing day-to-day operations.

No. All financial gifts made to the Archdiocese, whether to your parish or the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal (AAA), are held in trust and can only be used for their intended purpose. According to a very long-standing legal and moral principle, the intention of the donor must always be respected. The parish offertory is to be used for the benefit of the parish, and the AAA is to be used for its specific ministries, which exclude legal settlements and related expenses. Without your continued support, the Archdiocese could not provide its critical services to those most in need. We are grateful for your generous gifts of time, talent, and financial resources.

Given the seriousness and complexity of the situation, it is unclear how long the process will take. Other dioceses that have gone through this process have taken between one and three years. The Archdiocese will work to emerge from Chapter 11 as quickly as possible.

No.  We believe Chapter 11 is the most viable option for compensating survivors fairly and equitably.  Otherwise, parties who filed first and were able to resolve their litigation could have an unfair advantage over claimants who have their cases heard later.

Chapter 11 allows all claimants equal access and an equitable share in the assets available to pay claims. It is a court-supervised, transparent process that allows for the evaluation of the merits of each claim and gives claimants a say in the outcome and visibility into the proceedings and Archdiocesan finances. This action will allow the Archdiocese to address these matters in a comprehensive manner, move forward with its essential services and mission, and provide survivors with a faster, more equitable resolution.

While we don’t know how much money will be needed as part of the  Chapter 11 process, we believe we should be able to reach a fair and equitable outcome for all survivors and provide just compensation to the innocent people who were harmed, while allowing the Archdiocese to reorganize its financial affairs to continue its vital ministries to the faithful and to the communities that rely on our services and charity.

Yes. More than two dozen U.S. dioceses have filed for Chapter 11, including most recently the Diocese of Oakland in California and the Diocese of Ogdensburg in New York. For those 18 or so dioceses that have resolved their bankruptcies, all have been able to successfully emerge and continue their ministries and support their communities.

Of the 12 dioceses or archdioceses in California, there are three dioceses currently in the Chapter 11 process, including the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Santa Rosa filed its case on March 13, 2023, and on May 8, 2023, The Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland filed its chapter 11 case. The Diocese of Stockton filed on January 15, 2014, and completed its process in February 2017.

Our Chapter 11 filing does not include the schools and parishes and therefore does not have an impact on operational decisions for schools and parishes. Those decisions would continue to be made based on sound mission and business judgements. 

A Chapter 11 filing triggers a “stay” that essentially freezes all litigation against the Archdiocese.  We will work with all survivors through the Chapter 11 process to finalize a fair and equitable settlement. The claims and settlement will be part of the Archdiocese’s Plan of Reorganization and must be approved by the Court before the Archdiocese can emerge from bankruptcy.

We believe the bankruptcy process is the best way to provide a compassionate and equitable solution for survivors of abuse while ensuring that we continue the vital ministries to the faithful and to the communities that rely on our services and charity.

Through AB-218, the State of California for a second time removed the statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims for non-profit organizations, opening a new three-year window allowing cases to be filed against the Archdiocese through December 31, 2022. This resulted in more than 500 civil lawsuits being filed against the Archdiocese. It is important to know that the overwhelming majority of the alleged abuse occurred in the 1960s and 70s, and into the 80s, and involved priests who are deceased or no longer in ministry. A significant number of these claims include unnamed individuals or named individuals who are unknown to the Archdiocese.

Absolutely not.  Chapter 11 is a very transparent process with information available to anyone. All of the court filings are available online at https://omniagentsolutions.com/RCASF free of charge.

The Victim Assistance Coordinator will ask if this has been reported to Child Protective Services or the Police Department. If not, the Victim Assistance Coordinator will inform the person that the policy of the Archdiocese is to report the matter to the proper civil authorities. If the abuse survivor is a current minor the report is made to Child Protective Services if the abuser and abuse survivor are living in the same household. If the alleged minor abuse survivor and the accused do not share a household the report is made to the Sheriff’s Department or Police Department. If the abuse survivor is no longer a minor the report is made to the local District Attorney’s office (see above).

The preliminary facts gathered by the Victim Assistance Coordinator will be referred to a qualified investigator (i.e. retired policeman/woman) who prepares a detailed report for consideration by the Archdiocesan Independent Review Board (IRB). When the preliminary investigation (e.g. the initial information gathered by the Victim Assistance Coordinator and /or the supplemental information obtained by the investigator) so indicates, the alleged perpetrator shall be relieved of active employment/ministry (placed on administrative leave) pending the conclusion of the investigation. The Archdiocesan Independent Review Board (IRB) then makes its recommendation to the Archbishop as to whether there is sufficient evidence to sustain that the sexual abuse of a minor has occurred.

The Archbishop and/or the Victim Assistance Coordinator will share the finding of the Independent Review Board and the Archbishop’s determination concerning the investigation with the alleged abuse survivor and perpetrator. In the event there is a determination that abuse occurred and the alleged perpetrator is a clergyman, he will be informed of his canonical right to request a canonical trial. If a clergyman admits that the abuse occurred, or chooses not to contest the matter, or the finding is sustained at trial then, pursuant to the USCCB document, Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal – USCCB (revised 2018), the individual will be permanently removed from ministry.