Spokane Diocese Appeals Court Ruling; Church Doesn't Think Property Should Be Used to Settle Abuse Lawsuits

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SPOKANE -- Victims of sexual abuse by priests were sharply critical on Wednesday of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane for appealing a bankruptcy judge's ruling that churches and parochial schools can be sold to pay claims filed by victims.

In an appeal filed late Tuesday in U.S. District Court here, lawyers for Bishop William Skylstad wrote that U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia C. Williams erred in her analysis in 11 areas and wrongly ignored evidence and centuries of religious law.

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Spokane Diocese Appeals Court Ruling; Church Doesn't Think Property Should Be Used to Settle Abuse Lawsuits

Lawyers for individual parishes facing potential loss of churches and schools joined in the appeal. Skylstad is the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, an...

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