Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Survivors
of abuse remain in our concern and prayers daily. As I shared with you
when we filed for Chapter 11 Reorganization, our main priorities are to
assist the abuse survivors on a path towards healing that includes fair
and equitable compensation for them while creating a more financially
sustainable archdiocesan ministry for the future. Our focus is to reach a
settlement agreement that accomplishes this goal.
Today, we reached a milestone in this process. It is with great hope that I share with you that we have filed the CHAPTER
11 PLAN OF REORGANIZATION FOR THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE
ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS, DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2024.
While there is still much work to do, this will allow us to move forward
and begin to bring conclusion to these proceedings. I am grateful that
we have had productive and professional conversations with the
committees and those who represent them and look forward to this
continuing. Those conversations have been a major factor in getting to
this point.
The Plan is our proposed settlement to compensate
abuse survivors and proposal for how the Archdiocese of New Orleans
administration will operate into the future. It will also include a
proposed set of “non-monetary covenants” that we are continuing to
negotiate with the committee of abuse survivors. These non-monetary
covenants are actions that we publicly pledge to take to continue our
commitment to ensuring our parishes, schools, and ministries are safe
places for all to grow in faith, be educated, and to participate in
ministry.
We know that no amount of money can provide complete
healing. For most of the survivors, this is suffering that has persisted
as long as 40 and even 50 years. For the pain of those that have
suffered abuse, we are truly sorry. We regret that abuse occurred
causing decades of pain for survivors. We pledge to continue our work
that has been effective in protecting children and continue to pray that
our actions, outlined in this Plan, will bring healing to survivors now
and into the future.
The time and cost associated with this
bankruptcy have been frustrating to all and have been of no benefit and
unjust to the survivors, today’s church and all interested parties. We
also know that today is the beginning of a process to bring closure and
that there are many more steps before we reach true conclusion. I wish
to request your patience and your prayers as we continue this process.
Again,
today is a day of hope for the future of the Archdiocese of New
Orleans. Please know that I remain committed to moving forward and for
healing for our local Church.
Wishing you God’s blessings, I am,
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans