Contributing to the victims’ trust will settle their claims, he added.
The creditors committee has not yet reached a settlement with insurance providers, but both the diocese and the committee will continue talks over a resolution.
According to the frequently asked questions page, the diocese has paid almost $11 million in legal fees.
The bishop said in his letter that he initiated the bankruptcy process in 2020 so the diocese “could be responsible for reparation in a fair and equitable manner to those individuals who had been harmed through sexual abuse by members of our diocesan family.”
“The one thing I continue to struggle with myself is the ‘scandal’ of it all,” he said.
“I am most heartily sorry for the lay faithful and clergy — who on their own faith journeys have been so offended and harmed by the breach of trust and detrimental behavior of their co-religionists and who, too, have had to endure suspicion and ridicule for being a Catholic believer.”
“I can say honestly that my own faith has been shaken and tested by the abuse scandal,” he added.
The bishop said he asked that Masses celebrating the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time on July 29 and 30 be offered for the intention “for the forgiveness of sins.” He also asked that violet vestments be worn.
“In our prayer, on this weekend, we ask pardon for sins of commission and omission, as we pray for all victims and survivors of sexual abuse and those who have been scarred mentally, emotionally, and spiritually by these heinous actions,” he said.
“In charity, we must not forget the perpetrators of such harmful behavior and pray for their own healing, conversion, and amendment,” Lucia said.
Joseph Bukuras is a journalist at the Catholic News Agency. Joe has prior experience working in state and federal government, in non-profits, and Catholic education. He has contributed to an array of publications and his reporting has been cited by leading news sources, including the New York Times and the Washington Post. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Catholic University of America. He is based out of the Boston area.