DRVC Bankruptcy Ends

As you have probably learned from various news reports, the Bankruptcy Case for the Diocese of Rockville Centre and for all parishes and related ministries is now ended and resolved as of December 4, 2024. Below is the statement and confirmation of the resolution that was sent on December 4 to the pastors from the Diocese.

“We are grateful to God that on December 4^th, the court confirmed the Plan that resolves and ends the Bankruptcy Case for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, all our parishes, and related ministries. For the sake of abuse survivors and the Church’s mission on Long Island, we pray that the Plan brings some measure of healing to survivors and allows the Church to carry on the saving mission of Jesus Christ. Victim survivors of child abuse deserve our respect, our prayers, and our pastoral support. The Church is grateful for their courage and perseverance.

The total settlement amount was just over $323 million, which included insurance contributions, Diocesan assets and sale proceeds from Diocesan property, and contributions from parishes and other related entities. The Diocese, parishes, and other related entities contributed a total of $234.8 million. Insurance companies contributed a total of just over $85 million. Counsel for the Creditor’s Committee contributed $3 million. All participated in order to offer equitable compensation to survivors and move this difficult ordeal towards its conclusion.

Parishes also completed an abbreviated Chapter 11 to secure a release from any past liabilities for the parishes. No parishes are closing as a result of this process. No Catholic Ministries Appeal donations were used for this settlement. Parishes will now continue their ministry, free from historical lawsuits and free from bankruptcy. We are grateful for the expert counsel of Jones Day, Alvarez & Marsal, and Reed Smith, as well as for the Westerman Ball Firm of Long Island that shepherded our parishes through Chapter 11.

The Diocese’s goal has always been the equitable compensation of survivors of abuse while allowing the Church to continue her essential mission. We believe this plan has achieved those goals.”

*******************************************************

Dear Parishioners,

As the bankruptcy proceedings for the Diocese of Rockville Centre are now completed, I wish to share information as to St. Anne’s participation in the settlement. Recently, parishes became more active participants in the proceedings as we were asked to make a financial contribution as part of the settlement. As reported, parishes contributed amounts that ranged from tens of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars. I do not have any knowledge of what various parishes have contributed, except what was reported in Newsday.

On October 24, St. Anne’s Parish made its contribution of $315,893 to the settlement. Understandably, St. Anne’s parishioners have interest in what funds were used to make this contribution. Several years ago, a parishioner bequested in a will a gift to the parish in an amount of more than $500,000. When we received $315,000 of that bequest, the parish deposited it in a new money market account. This would be the only deposit in that money market account. The deceased parishioner gave no further instruction about the bequest. The funds of the bequest would not be mixed with any other parish gifts, Sunday offerings, or Christmas or Easter offerings. I decided to place these funds in a separate parish money market account in anticipation of some extraordinary expense. As the bankruptcy proceedings passed the three-year mark, it became a strong possibility that parishes would be asked to make a financial contribution to the settlement. So when that possibility became a reality this past summer, I made the decision that we would make our contribution using the funds from this bequest. The $315,000 deposit, along with interest, allowed us to make the contribution without using any additional parish funds. So, except for this generous bequest, no funds were used from any other gifts, Sunday collections, Christmas, or Easter collections. I am very grateful for the enormous generosity of this deceased parishioner to St. Anne’s Parish.

*******************************************************

Although the bankruptcy proceedings were difficult in many ways, as sexual abuse cases have been prosecuted in the courts, entering into this process with the diocese, other parishes, and other related entities fairly accomplished the two goals of:

1. Financial compensation to abuse victims;

2. Continued operation of parish and church ministries.

Settling those abuse civil suits on a case by case basis would have had devastating effects for both sexual abuse victims and survivors and parishes. Most likely, some sexual abuse survivors and victims would have received no compensation and some parishes may have had to cease operations. Some sexual abuse claims on Long Island, in other cases, such as lawsuits in public school districts, have realized 5 million dollars in compensation for a single victim. With that amount of money possibly awarded to some victims and survivors, those with cases settled later may have received no money as the funds would be exhausted.

At St. Anne’s, we were defendants in two claims; the $315,893 contribution was one that we could make without compromising our ministries, services, and activities at St. Anne’s. Our contribution, combined with all parish contributions, diocesan contributions, and insurance contributions, led to this long awaited settlement of $323 million dollars. Please understand that our contribution went to the fund that will be used for compensation for hundreds of victims and survivors. Our $315,893 contribution does not go to a single individual.

Throughout this process I have kept informed the parish staff, parish trustees, parish finance committee, and pastoral council. Throughout the process all these parishioners have been supportive as they have learned about the proceedings. In addition, we had parish counsel with a bankruptcy attorney and individual parish pro-bono counsel. Our bankruptcy attorney had a fee of $6,500.

*******************************************************

The conclusion of the court proceedings will bring an end to bankruptcy and the litigation of

lawsuits will come to an end. But there is so much more to this very sad and tragic story that has been part of our faith life these past few decades. We need to be very aware of the continued pain and struggle that sexual abuse sins bring upon persons.

The victims and survivors of clergy sexual abuse, and all sexual abuse, live with the pain and struggle for a lifetime. It does not end. No monetary compensation ends the pain and struggle. Sexual abuse brings pain, confusion, and so many difficult emotions. Some victims and survivors find the ability and courage to speak about the abuse and identify the abuser. I believe many never speak of the abuse, keep the pain to themselves, and suffer silently. For victims and survivors who have spoken, and those who do not speak, that pain and suffering often extends to other family members, particularly parents and siblings. This shared suffering has no closure; heroically many survivors and victims of sexual abuse find some healing as they courageously share their pain with counselors, trusted family members, therapists, or trusted friends. Some choose not to share. All have suffered and we clergy and the church have to be so very alert, compassionate, and kind when these stories emerge and come before us.

Sexual abuse occurs in all sorts of groups in society; in families; in schools; in sports. So we are not alone as clergy and Church in admitting of the crime of sexual abuse and we are not alone in assisting victims and survivors in their pain. At the same time, we must acknowledge that the heinous acts of sexual abuse in the context of faith, church, and religious practice are sins for which we must share in the healing and recovery of any victim or survivor. And where there is sin in the Catholic tradition, there is repentance and atonement. The vigilance and protection of children that is designed to prevent this sin in the Church is a priority for all Catholics.

*******************************************************

I write as your pastor and as a person with knowledge of abuse. As a priest of 33 years and as your pastor for 13 years, I am very aware of the damage and destruction that clergy sexual abuse has caused. In the previous paragraphs, I have written of the pain of the victims and survivors and the need for continued healing and vigilance. I am aware too of how the criminal behavior of some priests has greatly damaged the priesthood. Many persons do not trust their priests as they did before. Some faith-filled persons have changed the practice of their faith; some Catholics choose to stay away from the sacraments and Mass. As priest leaders of parishes, we have much to do to regain trust and re-build credibility and confidence. We priests need to collaborate with one another to strengthen our vocations. We need to create rectory living situations to promote a sense of fraternity and shared pastoral ministry that supports the parish priests in their ministry. This work becomes more difficult as there are fewer priests.

I ask myself, “What do parishioners want from their parish priests?’ I think parishioners want reverence with sacramental celebration, availability, transparency, humility, kindness, compassion, leadership, and care for the sick and those in need. And there is so much more you might add to the list. Priesthood may not be “easy” but is a great source of happiness and joy for me. For your support, understanding, and generosity, I am very grateful to you as I am to the parishioners of each parish where I have served. Thank you.

What parishioners most desire from their priest is the same as what is at the heart of the priesthood. It is a prayerful priest. A priest who prays with you at Mass and the sacraments, who receives your requests for prayers with an open and generous heart; who prays for you as he prays the prayers he has promised to pray as a priest. Parishioners want a priest who is faithful to his promises of obedience and celibacy. Parishioners want a priest whose daily interactions with his parishioners reflect a life of prayer. Parishioners want a parish priest close to God, a brother of Jesus, and a man of the Holy Spirit.

Priests need parishioners who pray for them and pray for the intercession of the Blessed Mother and the saints to guide and inspire their priests.

*******************************************************

As we pray for one another, as we pray for victims and survivors of sexual abuse and their families, we will in God’s time move into a future where healing and renewal of the Church and priests become a source of new peace and joy. As we observe these Advent weeks of hope and prayer, may we realize that it is only with prayer that our recovery will be an experience of grace and blessing; a recovery that gives us a deeper sense of our unity as sons of daughters of God, and as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Tom

Proof of Claim Form:

For anyone who believes they have a Sexual Abuse Claim against an Additional Debtor (parish) arising prior to December 3, 2024, the claim form to submit and related information can be found at:

https://dm.epiq11.com/case/drvc/info <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/dm.epiq11.com/case/drvc/info__;!!Dahw-A9d0CA!0_55QHJscCJOmIA5cg7gAGRBlmewtaC7MfPPErUAlv8BYMLP46Zb5f8JRK7e_YkOBc54gvVLzRm_vPVvlew$>

The deadline for filing claims is January 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. prevailing Eastern time.

About Our Parish