Bankruptcy judge allows Maryland abuse survivors to sue Baltimore Archdiocese

A U.S. judge is allowing victims of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to individually sue the church, even though the organization filed for bankruptcy.

For more than a year and a half, victims have been prohibited from suing the church, and instead forced to go through the bankruptcy process, which involves filing a claim and waiting for mediation to resolve what the archdiocese can pay out.

However, recent changes to Maryland’s Child Victims Act have complicated that process and necessitated a decision from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michelle Harner.