Hagatna, Guam, Jan 16, 2019 / 17:01 pm
The Archdiocese of Agaña has filed for bankruptcy in federal court in the wake of numerous sex abuse allegations. The move, decided upon in November, allows the archdiocese to avoid trial and to begin to reach settlements in millions of dollars' worth of abuse lawsuits.
"This path will bring the greatest measure of justice to the greatest number of victims," Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes said in November. "That's the heart of what we're doing."
The bankruptcy decision was made following mediation efforts.
Leander James, an attorney working with alleged victims in the territory, also said in November that filing for bankruptcy would provide "the only realistic path to settlement of pending and future claims."