Attorneys for alleged church sex abuse victims file motion asking court to dismiss Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy case

NEW ORLEANS, La. (WVUE) -Alleged victims of clergy sex abuse want the New Orleans Archdiocese bankruptcy case dismissed. Attorneys for those survivors claim the church didn’t file for Chapter 11 because of a financial crisis but instead to gain a litigation advantage.

In the motion filed Friday, lawyers for abuse survivors say the Archdiocese is solvent and not in financial distress or in need of reorganization. In fact, the motion claims the Archdiocese has net assets exceeding more than 50 million, including over 25 million in cash and annual revenue exceeding 100 million.

“The thing is this is supposedly a spiritual organization that’s very happy to crush it’s own members in the sake of what, holding onto material possessions,” said John Gianoli with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Victims’ attorneys also say by filing bankruptcy and removing litigation to federal court “the Archdiocese worked to gain immediate tactical advantages” including stopping a discovery process that “threatened to publicly expose information showing the Archdiocese’s mishandling and cover up of abuse.” And, avoiding a scheduled deposition of Archbishop Gregory Aymond on May 28th of this year.