Rochester, N.Y. — Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) – For about five hours, sex abuse survivors and attorneys lobbed questions at Bishop Salvatore Matano as well as the CFO of the Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
It was the first meeting of the creditors in the diocese’s bankruptcy case, which was filed last month after being slapped with dozens of sex abuse lawsuits.
The ‘creditors’ in this case, is sex abuse survivors. A committee of nine survivors will help settle the cases faced by the diocese.
The survivors and attorneys questioned the diocese over its finances, assets, as well as policies in place to keep children safe.
“It was a moving moment when the bishop gave heartfelt apology to the survivors,” said attorney James Marsh. “And I think from the clients we represent, and the people there today, it goes beyond finances, it’s accountability.”
Attorneys said it could be months before any of the sex abuse lawsuits facing the diocese are settled.
“I think what matters most is whether they can keep all the promises they made today and be transparent,” said Marsh.