What's at stake:
The Fresno Diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections Tuesday morning “to address the substantial number of claims brought forth by victims collectively.”
In May 2024, the Bishop Joseph V. Brennan announced in an open letter that the Fresno Roman Catholic Diocese planned to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August of 2024, as the diocese struggled under the weight of more than 150 sexual abuse claims.
Almost a year later, Brennan announced Tuesday morning in an open letter that the Diocese filed a Voluntary Petition for chapter 11 bankruptcy with the United States Bankruptcy Court in Fresno County. The letter does not explain the reason for the delay or disclose the number of sexual abuse cases involved.
In a bankruptcy court filing Tuesday, an attorney said the Fresno Diocese remains a defendant in at least 153 pending cases, and suggested that the defendants face potential losses of “more than $2 million per claim.”
Brennan’s letter states that during the reorganization process, the court will oversee the allocation of available assets to satisfy claims against the Diocese. Survivors of clergy sexual abuse will be represented in the proceedings, and the court will establish a fund for distributing compensation.
“I am clear-sighted that this path is the only path that will allow us to handle claims of sexual abuse with fair, equitable compassion while simultaneously ensuring the continuation of ministry within our Diocese,” Brennan wrote in the letter.
Rick Simons, a lawyer serving as the plaintiffs’ co-liaison counsel for the Northern California cases, including those of the Diocese of Fresno, said he filed a motion with the Alameda County Superior Court on June 30, asking the court to investigate whether the Diocese of Fresno deliberately misled the court and survivors by claiming for 14 months that a bankruptcy filing was imminent.
He said this may have been a calculated effort to delay proceedings—including jury trials, discovery, and mediation—while avoiding public accountability.
Simons argued that the delay robbed survivors of the chance to go to trial, share evidence, and publicly reveal the extent of the abuse—an outcome he said is re-traumatizing and replaces public accountability with a closed-door bankruptcy process.
“It’s emotionally very harmful for individuals who endured childhood sexual abuse to face these kinds of delays and tactics—especially after it took them decades just to speak out,” said Simons. “And even now, most are only able to come forward under a fictitious name. This process is incredibly difficult for them, both psychologically and emotionally.”
He questioned whether the Diocese used the delay to shield assets or protect its reputation, noting that the Diocese’s long-awaited bankruptcy filing came just one day after his motion calling for an investigation.
Simons said he doesn’t expect the court to rule on the motion now that the Diocese of Fresno has filed for bankruptcy. Originally, there was a set date for July 23 and that the Diocese would have about nine court days beforehand to file a response.
Diocese of Fresno’s Communications Director Chandler Marquez declined to comment on questions regarding the delay, the timing and motivations behind the bankruptcy filing, and the recent motion filed to investigate possible fraud related to the bankruptcy announcement.
Jennifer Stein, an attorney with Jeff Anderson and Associates, who represents around 50 survivor cases from the Diocese of Fresno, said the bankruptcy filing, after 14 months of uncertainty, will bring new delays and unanswered questions, fueling fear about what lies ahead.
Stein added that under normal circumstances, a personal injury claim in state court would likely be resolved by now. Instead, most of these survivors still haven’t had their day in court, and the clock keeps ticking.
Stein said that although filing for bankruptcy is typically viewed as a financial decision, what she’s seen with Catholic entities nationwide in sexual abuse cases shows it is often a strategic legal tactic, motivated more by self-preservation than by a commitment to protecting children.
“If the Diocese does want to be transparent, there’s an opportunity and time for them to do so, and they should start doing so immediately,” said Stein. “They need to step up and start doing right by these survivors who have been waiting many, many years.”
A hearing for the bankruptcy filing is scheduled on July 7 10:30 a.m. More information can be found on the Diocese’s webpage on the bankruptcy that provides information on the bankruptcy, official statements and active case information.
