The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson filed for bankruptcy on Monday in anticipation of having to settle 22 lawsuits involving sexual abuse allegations. The diocese previously settled 11 lawsuits filed by 16 plaintiffs in 2002, all concerning allegations of sexual abuse, for an undisclosed amount, according to the Washington Post. This is the second diocese to file for bankruptcy in the nation this year. The Tucson diocese is hoping that their bankruptcy reorganization plan will compensate the remaining victims of sexual abuse with the sale of property worth $3.2 million, while still enabling its 75 parishes to remain in operation, the Arizona Republic reports. Buildings and land owned by the parishes are worth approximately $50 million. Lawyers for the victims of sexual abuse told the Republic that the figure seems low in relation to the damage caused. Earlier this year, the Vatican reported a 2003 deficit of $11.8 million, its third year in a row with a deficit. The United States remained the main source of donations to the Vatican. JOIN the Feminist Majority
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