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Survivors of sexual abuse will have the opportunity to testify in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany's bankruptcy case, with hearings set to begin on Wednesday (September 10). The hearings will take place in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, allowing survivors to share their experiences and the impact of the abuse they endured.
The proceedings follow the 2022 implementation of New York's Child Victims Act, which allowed many survivors to file lawsuits against the diocese and clergy. However, the diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2023, putting many of these cases on hold. According to NEWS10, the diocese controls over $600 million in assets, and the bankruptcy filing has been seen by some as a tactic to delay legal proceedings.
The hearing, scheduled to extend to September 11 and possibly September 12, will not consider the survivor statements as evidence but aims to give survivors a voice. The Times Union reports that Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of the Albany diocese will attend the hearings, which are expected to last at least two days.
The Official Committee of Tort Claimants, representing hundreds of survivors, filed the motion for these hearings. Attorney Cynthia LaFave, representing 190 plaintiffs, emphasized the importance of survivors having their voices heard. "To be able to sit in a courtroom and tell what happened is incredibly difficult but also a relief for them," she said.
The diocese has not opposed the hearings, acknowledging the need for responsibility and liability. The Albany Survivors website provides additional information and support for those affected by the case.