Got links to the story? I'd like to check it out and compare it with what is going on here.
Ya know, I am probably in the minority here, but the whole thing with declaring bankrupcy looks good to me. All victims come foreward, file the lawsuits and get the money. And they are at least compensated financially if not emotionally - and the lawyers and bad feeling generated from all the legal tactics on both sides are done with. I look at some of the holdings that we have here in the Archdiocese of Boston - like the chancery and land holdings and the seminary (combine it with another state, only 4 seminarians there anyway and it would free up for parish work priests who are professors there) - and I just say to myself, get rid of them. The bishop can live in a rectory (plenty of room in most of them!) just like any other priest.
Get rid of the stupid (in our case) "Boston Catholic Television" -- a duplication of efforts since there is EWTN and our BCTV is vastly inferior, broadcasting a lousy Mass from the chancery with no one in attendance, old TV shows and some odd priests occasionally - one was preaching from the pulpit to an empty parish about "centering prayer" a couple of weeks ago. He's also one that is not orthodox in other things. But I think every Bishop likes to have his own TV station that he heads up and so many of them resent Mother Angelica and what she has done and what she stands for.
And the chancery is a mess. Tons of duplicated effort by priests who could be out in a parish. I know one young, orthodox priest who is bilingual and who looks for work... calls area parishes every day to say Mass as a visiting priest. This guy should have his own parish which would be orthodox and vibrant.
The other day for the Lenten Mass the new bishop decided he wanted to do it at noon and therefore, change the old practice of doing it at 11 AM. I heard that the priests in the chancery were all up in arms, really upset. They carried on and on about it and were bent out of shape because "this isn't what we always did" -- too much time on their hands, it seems like. A bunch of old ladies.
Also, too many parishes. Although the number of Catholics has increased over the years, hardly any of them attend Mass - it seems to me that we are decrying a lack of priests although this lack of priests is geared to the number of parishes and not the actual number of practicing Catholics. So if you look at it that way, there probably is no real shortage of priests. Remember years ago (I'm 43) there would be standing room only if you arrived at Mass within 10 minutes of it starting. Today, there are tons of empty seats. I'm no martyr, but I wouldn't mind driving a piece for Sunday Mass - although it is nice to have daily Mass 5 minutes away and I probably couldn't attend daily Mass if it wasn't so close (kids are home until 9 AM school starts).
OK, enough of this rant! I have to go replace some plumbing in the bathrooms and take off for a haircut.