# Can a church file for bankruptcy?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-church-file-for-bankruptcy/656369>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 22, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-church-file-for-bankruptcy/656369 "2013-04-22T02:26:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-church-file-for-bankruptcy/656369/1 "2013-04-22T02:26:00Z")

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Can a church file for bankruptcy just like a regular business?

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**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-church-file-for-bankruptcy/656369/2 "2013-04-22T02:49:50Z")

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Eight different Roman Catholic archdioceses have filed for bankruptcy protection as a result of the child sex scandal. So, in the United States, it does appear to be possible.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-church-file-for-bankruptcy/656369/3 "2013-04-22T02:54:11Z")

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Churches are non-profit corporations and can acquire liabilities and file for bankruptcy if they need to.

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-church-file-for-bankruptcy/656369/4 "2013-04-22T09:47:19Z")

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> [@dalej42](#):
>
> Can a church file for bankruptcy just like a regular business?

Why do you think that they might not be able to?