A abuse survivor wrote on Apr 11, 2007 10:18 PM:Your reporting lacks certain facts, like names of priests (Gallagher and Osborne) and lawyers questioned by the judge. And the connection the judge made between the accounts not listed as Diocese Assets, by the request of the Diocese to have an order concerning those accounts on March 1. In Essence the Judge stated the Diocese is connected to the accounts, as they wanted an order concerning them, and have account numbers with amounts in them, while they say they have nothing to do with them. And it wasn't only the 770 accounts, but the additional 500 too, so that would mean there where 1200 accounts missing from the schedules. The expert will be a forensic accountant, that will report directly to the judge. Never before has the accounting system of a catholic church come under such scrutiny. Its obvious this newspaper is pro catholic, and contributes to the cancer within the church by reporting in such limited fashion. This is why the church has prolonged this settlement with the victims, because they have tremendous influence in the media in San Diego, and have come to believe they can get away with anything. Yes I was in the court room today, because I can't relay on you to tell the full story to the public, only your pro catholic slant.It's interesting the New York times reporter got it right, just not the T/A.

Are you kidding? wrote on Apr 11, 2007 10:25 PM:A multimillion dollar organization and they can't do basic accounting. Now you know where your donations go...somewhere else that you can't trace...easy to steal this way and even easier to conceal. Hope this judge throws the book of contempt at them.

MIKE IN LSM wrote on Apr 12, 2007 7:22 AM:No more money Bishop, until there are full,complete, audited and published Diocesan financial statements. As far as being pro-Catholic, it will be very interesting to see what the Diocesan newspaper, the Southern Cross, publishes.

Who's Your Priest? wrote on Apr 12, 2007 8:18 AM:So they want to "protect the cash flow" and not the people abused by the priests? It's time to turn over the money-changers' tables in front of the temple.

Concerned-1 wrote on Apr 12, 2007 8:23 AM:Vatican II, Mass in English, pedofile and sex cover ups, catering to illegals...this church has lost touch.

Not Concerned wrote on Apr 12, 2007 9:54 AM:This church proved it had lost touch when they persecuted Galileo. That wasn't their first crime against humanity and it certainly wasn't thier last.

ANOTHER VIEW wrote on Apr 12, 2007 10:27 AM:More drivel from Catholic bashers. "persecuted Galileo." GIVE ME A BREAK. Reaching back 500 years to pillory the Church says it all. Pure bigotry and anti-Catholicism and is completely irrelevant to this litigation. This bankruptcy proceeding is NOT about the merits of the plaintiffs' cases, but simply an accounting of the diocesan assets. At its conclusion the Diocese and the plaintiffs will be in a clearer position to settle the claims at hand. There is no evidence of chicanery on the part of the Diocese, only misunderstandings and excusable errors. "Adler did not find the diocese or its attorneys in contempt of court." Indeed, the court did not simply because there was no intentional misleading of the court or the plaintiffs. Nobody argues that the alleged victims should be denied their day in court. That is what courts are for, after all.

Gimme a break wrote on Apr 12, 2007 10:47 AM:"Pro-Catholic slant"??? How about addressing the clearly anti-Catholic bigotry of this judge? Or at least admitting to the pure and simple hatred in these comments?

Catholic wrote on Apr 12, 2007 10:58 AM:I've always said, I believe in the lord, but not people! These are people running the church they are not GOD. Therefore, they should be accountable just like all of us. The Church (that would be all Churches & religions) is a business. They always want $$$ and make you feel guilty for not giving it. As for the abuse,I don't trust Teachers to be alone with my kids so why would I trust a Priest? Because GOD said so? DUH, wake up & protect your KIDS!

It's a business wrote on Apr 12, 2007 12:01 PM:Enough of the pro- and anti-catholic drivel. This is about a business using a legal system to shield itself from debts. Period. If you look behind the church using this method,you should begin to understand that they do NOT practice what they preach. In my book hypocrits, no matter what persuasion they are, are disgusting and deserve to be exposed for that.

Interested in justice wrote on Apr 12, 2007 12:09 PM:So Judge Adler wants Bishop Robert Brom to personally sign the revised list of bank accounts and financial information so Brom can "attest to the veracity of the information." Careful, Bishop Brom; 'veracity' means 'truthfulness', a concept with which you are apparently unfamiliar.

religion wrote on Apr 12, 2007 12:54 PM:Do we really need churches in order to believe in and get in touch with God? Churches seem to me to be nothing more than businesses and political organizations that have very little to do with belief. Their main goal seems to be pushing their beliefs on everyone around them and condemning anyone who doesn't share those beliefs. Why don't we all just quit giving them money?

How many others? wrote on Apr 12, 2007 1:28 PM:Sadly, maybe thousands of other youngster (now grown up) have NEVER told that they were abused by a priest, teacher or neighbor, or even their own dad or uncle. They will never tell, only suffer silently. They don't want a million dollars to 'heal' - they just don't want a label on them; they will strive oh so hard to live a 'normal' family life. But the sad reality is abused children who don't heal may grow up to abuse others, to get it out of their system. Ask your child if anyone has hurt them approached them in a sexual way....warn them of signs. But also teach how wrong it would be accuse someone who was NOT guilty. There are many incarcerated for sexual abuse who NEVER abused, but a sweet young child’s story was believed. SAD. Sad all around that we live in a country where you have to be so cautious. At least be honest.

I agree with religion wrote on Apr 12, 2007 3:11 PM:I have believed in God all of my life but I have grown away from and do not believe in churches, any churches. they are simply another institution of man with all the trappings, corruption, and misgivings of man. You don't have to attend church to believe in God.

To Religion wrote on Apr 12, 2007 4:37 PM:Do we need churches? I don't know? That is each of our personal choices, as there are no trappings unless you allow to be trapped. No you don't have to attend church to believe but I go because I chose to believe in God and love to learn more about the Bible. I have never heard anyone at church telling me what to do, they make suggestions on how to live a Godly life and then we have choices to live by them. Church preaching are usually common sense on how to live a respectful and moral life. I was taught not to judge man as he is not God and all of us are not perfect. You don't have to give money, again that is your choice.

Not Concerned wrote on Apr 12, 2007 4:41 PM:Going back more than five hundred years to show a pattern of selfish arrogance is more like it. Which is very relevant to this story. They jailed Galileo for showing physical provable facts. They hid the perverts who did this to protect the church. Now they are shuffling money around during a bankruptcy to protect the church. I say it is a continuation of the pattern. No this bankruptcy proceding isn't about the merits of the abuse claims it is about limiting the funds available to setttle those claims befor they even get to trial. As far as I am concerned this is just a continuation of the pattern. Try this on for size, if half of the parishioners each gave an extra hundred bucks a month they would have enough to pay these victims a million dollars each in three months. I say extra because the church obviously isn't willing to give up one cent of what they are already getting every sunday. I think every person who knew about these perverts should be put in jail for for being accessories to child abuse. But that will never happen because none of those who knew would testify against each other.