# Boston Archdiocese Settlement and Possible Bankruptcy **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 4, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-archdiocese-settlement-and-possible-bankruptcy/122239 "2002-08-04T00:51:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ankh\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Ankh\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ankh_Too)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-archdiocese-settlement-and-possible-bankruptcy/122239/1 "2002-08-04T00:51:58Z")
Apparently the Archdiocese of Boston is looking to bankruptcy as an option when faced with the possible settlement in the case against John J. Geoghan as reported in The Boston Globe [story 1](http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/214/metro/Bankruptcy_filing_called_option_for_archdiocese+.shtml), [story 2](http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/stories2/080302_bankruptcy.htm); [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/08/02/church.abuse.settlement.ap/index.html) and others. In the second Boston Globe story, one of the plaintiff attorneys said the move to bankruptcy would be a mistake if it had been undertaken in order to cause the plaintiffs to “lessen their resolve and lower their sights”. While I don’t necessarily believe that’s the reason that the Archdiocese would consider bankruptcy proceedings, the fact that they are willing to do so cannot help but have an impact on the plaintiffs’ state of mind about their case and the possibility of settlement. Should the plaintiffs take into account that their actions could cause the Archdiocese to declare bankruptcy beyond the point at which it would impact on their financial settlement? Do the plaintiffs need to be cognizant of the possibility that their course of action could lead to this bankruptcy? Should they, as a church get special consideration where an individual or corporation would not? For myself, I certainly don’t think it would weigh heavily on my mind, were I one of the plaintiffs. If it happened to cause the Archdiocese to file for bankruptcy, then those are the breaks. In the second Boston Globe story, another attorney for a number of the plaintiffs said that they had no intention of forcing the Archdiocese to sell off real estate holdings in order to pay off any settlement they eventually reach. My question would be: Why not? ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-archdiocese-settlement-and-possible-bankruptcy/122239/2 "2002-08-04T04:52:30Z")
I don’t know. Some news item indicated the BR could be a bluff. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-archdiocese-settlement-and-possible-bankruptcy/122239/3 "2002-08-04T16:03:11Z")
What - the representatives of Christ on earth - _bluff?!_ I’m shocked, _shocked_ to hear of such a thing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ankh\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Ankh\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ankh_Too)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-archdiocese-settlement-and-possible-bankruptcy/122239/4 "2002-08-04T17:57:46Z")
Which raises the question: if Jesus was sitting on a busted flush, would he fold or raise? If it _is_ a bluff on the part of the Archdiocese, is it a legitimate tactic in the goings on? This is just the first of many, many cases that are to be litigated against former priests and the initial settlement, now disavowed by the Church set a fairly high standard in awards for damages. If the defendants were a business, the use of bankruptcy as a means of self-preservation would be legal and “legitimate” if not particularly admirable. But, of course, the defendant is **not** your run of the mill corporation. What are the stardards we can **realistically** hope that they will follow during these litigations?