Thursday, September 08, 2005
VICTIMS VS. PARISHIONERS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SPOKANE -- Victims of sexual abuse by priests were sharply critical Wednesday of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane for appealing a bankruptcy judge's ruling that churches and parochial schools can be sold to pay claims filed by victims.
In an appeal filed late Tuesday in U.S. District Court here, lawyers for Bishop William Skylstad wrote that U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams erred in her analysis in 11 areas and wrongly ignored evidence and centuries of religious law.
Lawyers for individual parishes facing potential loss of churches and schools joined in the appeal. Skylstad is the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the outcome of the Spokane case is likely to have national implications.
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