What's a harsher word than loathsome? Than despicable?

I need one.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane announced yesterday it would file for bankruptcy, making it the third diocese in the country to do so and throwing into question whether its bishop, the Most Rev. William Skylstad, will be elected president of a national bishops organization next week.

The diocese intends to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on or before Nov. 29, the date a trial is expected to begin in the case of the Rev. Patrick O'Donnell, a former Spokane priest and former roommate of Skylstad's who has been accused of molesting dozens of boys.

Settlement talks involving 28 plaintiffs in the O'Donnell cases broke down Friday. A bankruptcy filing would halt the trial and protect the diocese from its creditors while allowing it to develop a reorganization plan

[...]

The diocese knows of 125 people, half of whom have lawyers, who say they were abused by priests in Eastern Washington. Church officials say they want to make sure they could pay them and others who have already filed suits.

"We are not a wealthy diocese," said Skylstad, who characterized the total amount sought by plaintiffs as in the "tens of millions of dollars. That far exceeds the net worth of the diocese."

Seattle Times article

More poor-mouthing by the Catholic church. I bet the Vatican can find a spare dollar or two. Oh, and it seems the Spokane diocese isn't all that broke.

The diocese has between $15 million and $19 million in insurance coverage related to the O'Donnell claims, Kosnoff said.

Well, never let it be said that the Church is Christian in its approach. Move the priests to new locales, sometimes new countries. File for bankruptcy to avoid the trials. Good lawyerly advice they're getting anyway. Gee, I wish I could say this were the first such tactic and blame it on the predators in Spokane. Unfortunately, I can't give you that assurance.

The Portland Archdiocese declared bankruptcy July 6, the date a trial was to start in the case of a now-deceased priest accused of molesting more than 50 boys. The Tucson Diocese filed for bankruptcy Sept. 20, nine days before a trial was scheduled to start.

"Bankruptcy prevents the victims from having their day in court and bishops testifying under oath and church cover-ups being revealed," said David Clohessy, executive director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). "That's the single common denominator [in the three dioceses]. Each one happened on the eve of a potentially very embarrassing civil trial."

[...]

The announcement yesterday also intensifies questions about Skylstad's suitability to ascend to the presidency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). As the organization's vice president, he is expected to be elected president at the semiannual bishops meeting starting Monday in Washington, D.C.

The president, elected to a three-year term, would have one of the church's most powerful voices and would play a key role in how the church handles sexual abuse by clergy. He would also be the main spokesperson in restoring the bishops' credibility. Only twice in the history of the organization has the vice president failed to ascend to the presidency.

Even before yesterday's bankruptcy announcement, Skylstad was being dogged with questions from Spokane parishioners and victims about whether he has the ability to lead the nation's approximately 300 bishops, given his own failure to deal firmly with sexual-abuse allegations in the past.

In his deposition, O'Donnell admitted to abusing at least 30 boys during his priesthood. According to his own statements, O'Donnell's most abusive period was 1974-76, when he lived in a tiny North Spokane rectory with Skylstad, who was his supervising priest.

Skylstad's failure to stop O'Donnell, even after receiving parishioners' complaints, is a key allegation in the five lawsuits against Skylstad, O'Donnell and the diocese.

Well, Jesus Christ, people. Get a freaking clue. Let's choose a president who is an accomplice to the rape of our children and then slams the coffers shut on restitution. Are you Republicans, or what?

Russell Shaw, a Washington correspondent for the Catholic publication Our Sunday Visitor and a former press secretary for the USCCB, said Skylstad's failings in the O'Donnell case, by themselves, probably wouldn't prevent the bishops from electing him USCCB president. "They'll think: 'There but for the grace of God go I.' "

Because they're all guilty of the same thing? Nice.

The whole rotten organization needs to be defrocked. And then sent to prison. I think they might find it an interesting place in light of their crimes; where they could reap what they sow, and all that. Only it will be missing some of the real oomph since they're adults and not helpless children.

The Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America, said he thinks Skylstad will prevail. "The bishops know these things are out of his control.

"I wouldn't have any problem with the president being the head of a diocese that's in bankruptcy," Reese said. "It would send a clear signal to everyone in the country that these lawsuits have financial consequences."

It just gets more and more outrageous, doesn't it? Kind of like the world under the Bush administration. Every time you think we've hit rock bottom, you find fresh new levels of Hell.

By all means, we must send a message to the victims that there are consequences to their demanding restitution. The message to the priests, on the other hand, is apparently that they can rape and abuse children with impunity.

Great church. Where do I sign up?