On Feb. 15, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania gave final approval to the Plan of Reorganization for the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg. (Full text of Reorganization Plan.) (Announcement by Diocese.) A Questions and Answers document explaining the Plan says in part:
The Plan outlines how the RCDH and related entities will (a) establish a Survivor Compensation Trust, (b) provide funding to the Trust in an amount equal to $7,500,000 to provide financial restitution for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, and (c) adopt enhanced child protection protocols. In addition to the financial restitution from the RCDH and related entities, current and historical insurance providers will also contribute $10,750,000 to the Trust….
Prior to filing for reorganization, the RCDH authorized an independent Survivor Compensation Program be established, in order to provide financial restitution to abuse survivors. Through this program, $12,784,450 was provided to assist 111 survivors….
More than 60 proofs of claim were submitted during the reorganization process and may be eligible for financial distributions from the Survivor Compensation Trust….
The majority of the claims involve accusations against Diocesan priests. As part of the confirmation process, the Diocese issued a list of persons involved in the claims. That list is available www.hbgdiocese.org/reorganization-information. All claims of abuse received during the bankruptcy process were reported to law enforcement.
Links to all the major legal documents filed in the reorganization are available on the Diocese’s website. WHP CBS21 reports on the Plan’s approval. The Survivor’s Network SNAP issued a press release reacting to the Plan approval.