Archbishop Lori Joins Chairman of Court-Sanctioned Survivors’ Committee to Outline Next Steps in Chapter 11 Mediation

For Immediate Release:
July 9, 2024

Contact: Yvonne Wenger
Tel. 410-547-3158
yvonne.wenger@archbalt.org

(Baltimore, MD) – As the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Chapter 11 reorganization moves forward, Archbishop William E. Lori on Monday offered his “earnest commitment” to work with the creditors’ committee of survivors toward fair and equitable compensation for victims of child sexual abuse.

Archbishop Lori joined Paul Jan Zdunek, chairman of the Official Unsecured Creditors Committee, to make a public statement about their shared intentions for the mediation following the court-imposed deadline for victim-survivors harmed by a representative of the Archdiocese to file a claim to participate in the process. While both Chairman Zdunek and Archbishop Lori said the number of survivors claims included in the mediation is still being determined, they announced their intention to continue working together as the process continues.

“It is our shared goal to create an environment rooted in mutual trust that permits us to work together constructively, and hopefully quickly, toward an agreed-upon plan,” Archbishop Lori said. “We wish to jointly acknowledge the bravery of the many victim-survivors of child sexual abuse who have come forward, many for the first time, during this process. It is difficult to talk about these claims in the context of numbers. We know that behind these numbers lie horrible and tragic stories. Stories of abuse, stories of misuse of power and stories of how the most innocent were harmed. Our goals in filing for Chapter 11 include compensating those individuals with the aim of helping to provide a possible path toward healing.

“The surest, most straightforward and efficient way to accomplish this is by working together. The Archdiocese recognizes the Committee as the court-sanctioned official committee representing all child abuse survivors who have filed claims. I also commend the Committee for their historic work already in proposing and organizing an opportunity for numerous survivors to address the bankruptcy court directly, something we have not seen done in other bankruptcies.”

Archbishop William E. Lori

Archbishop William E. Lori was installed as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore May 16, 2012.

Prior to his appointment to Baltimore, Archbishop Lori served as Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., from 2001 to 2012 and as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1995 to 2001.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Archbishop Lori holds a bachelor's degree from the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky., a master's degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg and a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1977.

In addition to his responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archbishop Lori serves as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and is the former chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.

Translate »