This Time

Bishop Michael W. Warfel

Coming up with a specific topic for The Harvest is not always easy. There are many issues to address and there is but one issue every two months. Choosing a topic for this issue seemed clear: Chapter 11 Bankruptcy! As most of you who read this will know, the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings filed for Chapter 11 reorganization before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana on March 31, 2017. It was not an easy decision to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. I made the decision in consultation with a number of advisors. It became clear to me that it was the best way for the Diocese to fairly and equitably settle the claims made against it.

Lawsuits against dioceses in the U.S. claiming that some priests, religious or lay workers from past years abused children have become all too common. The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is the fifteenth diocese to file for reorganization with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Doing so will hopefully enable the diocese to provide pastoral service throughout eastern Montana. Even though the suits are directed against the Corporation of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Great Falls, an impact certainly will be felt throughout our parishes and missions.

The situation we face as a diocese will involve some heartache, but our circumstances can hardly be matched when compared with the struggle that many religious believers face in other areas of the world such as Iraq, Syria and Southern Sudan. We do not have an oppressive government. Nor do we suffer from the threat of physical violence. The struggle the diocese is about facing up to and addressing past wrongs. And if there is any real suffering, it is on the part of those who suffered abuse as children. The Chapter 11 reorganization will have an impact on the present and the near future for the diocese. It is a struggle that must be played out in mediation with attorneys and decisions made by the courts.

Incidents of past abuse have led to this situation. Those who have suffered abuse, even though from years long past, have lingering pain and trauma. In part, the pain comes from being victimized by individuals who were serving the Church. It was a violation of a sacred trust. This is not something that a bishop may easily or rightly ignore. I recall words written by St. Pope John XXIII in his encyclical letter, Pacem et Terris, that people have “…a right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life…”

These words of Pope St. John XXIII were written to address threats to world peace. It strikes me that they can just as well be applied to a child who suffered abuse and violence. If a child was abused by someone serving on behalf of this diocese, their bodily integrity was violated. It may be true that the abuse occurred decades ago, yet they need to be listened to and their claims attended to. This ultimately is my goal in the proceedings we have begun as a diocese: acknowledging the pain of those who have been victimized and abused as minors. Pastorally, it will be important to help with their healing.

This is a primary reason why I have chosen a pastoral approach to address the claims against the diocese. As I stated in my press release, “The goal of the bankruptcy process will be to resume mediation after the total number of claims are known (currently there are 72), with the further goal of reaching a comprehensive settlement agreement that will be approved under the Bankruptcy Court process. The process of obtaining Bankruptcy Court approval will include the opportunity for abuse victims to vote on any proposed resolution. The Diocese expects that the reorganization will be expedited as a result of pre-bankruptcy discussions with all the affected parties.”

As the bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, I judge that I have two main responsibilities in this matter. The first is to attend to the individuals who claim they were abused by a priest, religious or a lay worker when they were children or youth here in eastern Montana. I have spoken personally with several victims, heard their stories of how they were sexually violated years ago as children. The stories were difficult to listen to. Their experiences have been a source of life long emotional pain and spiritual woundedness.

When someone has been injured so, it is important to acknowledge it. As one of the victims told me, there is a question of accountability. A definite pastoral role of a bishop is to attend to such wrongdoing even though it may have occurred years ago. The next mediation will address this question. It is the goal of the diocese to reach an agreement regarding a settlement with the claimants, both in monetary terms as well as non-monetary terms.

The second responsibility is to assure that present and future generations will continue to receive the level of pastoral ministry required for them to fully practice their Catholic faith. I have a responsibility to the parishioners of today as well as their children of tomorrow. In the short term, there will be a diminished level of service from the diocesan level. It is unclear to me what we will be able to provide at this time. Where this will likely have the most impact is with building projects. While regular maintenance and repairs will be allowed, new building projects will mostly be on hold until all is settled.

At the same time, parish life will continue as normal, celebrating Sunday Mass, baptizing children, holding weddings, hearing the confessions, having funerals. I envision that most parishes will notice little difference in actual parish life.

So, what should parishioners do? As I have asked all along, pray for an equitable and just resolution to the suits as well as a timely settlement. This includes praying for those who were sexually abused as children, for those who committed the abuse, for anyone who may have been mistakenly accused, for the priests and religious currently serving in the diocese, for the attorneys involved in the suits (i.e., the mediator, diocesan legal representatives and plaintiff’s legal representatives) and for the bankruptcy judge. It is my personal prayer that there truly will be healing and reconciliation for all and that we will confidently move forward as a people of God.