Source:
Associated PressCalif. Diocese Threatened With ContemptBy ALLISON HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 11, 2007; 11:16 AM
SAN DIEGO -- A federal bankruptcy judge is threatening the Roman Catholic
Diocese of San Diego with contempt for allegedly attempting to hide assets
to avoid payment to clergy sexual abuse victims.
Judge Louise DeCarl Adler ordered the diocese's lead attorney into court
Wednesday to explain why she and her colleagues should not be sanctioned.
Adler cited a March 29 letter sent by a diocese parish organization to pastors
urging them to get new taxpayer identification numbers and transfer funds
to new accounts. The threat Monday came six weeks after the diocese
sought bankruptcy protection amid lawsuits by more than 140 people who
accuse priests of sexual abuse.
The judge said any post-bankruptcy transfers between the diocese and
parishes outside of normal cash operations violate her ruling against shifting
the diocese's assets while the bankruptcy case is pending. She said any
transfers require court approval.
-snip-Read more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/11/AR2007041100485.html