Church sales bring in millions

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has earned nearly $10 million from selling churches. But abuse survivors seeking settlements may never see that money.

Judge rules properties are separate

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michelle Harner ruled the church properties are separate from the archdiocese. Their sale proceeds aren't available to pay survivors' claims.

Settlement deadline looms

If parties can't reach a settlement by September 30, the judge could lift bankruptcy protections. That would allow survivors to pursue claims in state court.

“If there's not enough money to get a deal done here, let's let it go, and you can all get it done in state court.”

State court could crush archdiocese

More than 900 claims are on hold. If they move to state court, attorneys could sue individual parishes directly, which are currently shielded by bankruptcy.

“These cases are going to crush the archdiocese. They're looking down the barrel at a catastrophe.”

Church says it can't pay more

Auxiliary Bishop Adam Parker told the judge the archdiocese can only give so much. A settlement beyond their limit would be a disaster for their ministries.

“It feels like we're being driven to a number that's beyond what we can pay to continue our ministries.”

Current offer totals $284 million

The archdiocese offers nearly $79 million from its own funds, plus $185 million from insurance and $20 million from parish bank accounts.

Parish money raises control questions

Survivors ask why parishes would freely commit $20 million if the archdiocese didn't control them. The archdiocese controls each parish board and decided which churches to close.

“It's what everybody wants to know.”

Survivors say offer isn't enough

Although the settlement offer has nearly doubled in four months, survivors say it's inadequate. Attorneys claim the archdiocese has access to tens of millions more through foundations.

Bankruptcy filed before law changed

The archdiocese declared bankruptcy two days before Maryland's Child Victims Act eliminated time limits for abuse survivors to sue. The law followed a report detailing abuse of 600+ children since the 1940s.

Seven parishes sold immediately

Seven out of 30 parishes settled their church sale contracts shortly after the bankruptcy filing. The public assumed those sales would be part of a settlement.

“We all know the parishes are part of the archdiocese. Determining that they are separate is ridiculous.”

Archdiocese insists parishes are separate

The archdiocese has repeatedly asserted that parishes are separate entities. Spokesperson Christian Kendzierski said the sale money belongs to the parish, not the archdiocese.

“It's not like there's an option as to where the money could go. That money belongs to the parish.”

Dozens of churches closed

In 2024, the archdiocese consolidated 61 parishes into about two dozen through an initiative called Seek the City to Come. The total portfolio value could exceed tens of millions of dollars.

Fifteen survivors died waiting

In the three years of negotiations, 15 known survivors have died. Attorneys say if the real estate portfolio were included, they might have settled more quickly.

Parishes incorporated separately in 1960s

For most of its history, all buildings were part of the archdiocese. In the 1960s, parishes incorporated as separate entities, possibly after a deadly 1956 fire at St. Rose of Lima.

New abuse allegations surface

Last month, Catholic deacon Kenneth Goedeke was charged with soliciting a minor. He had been working at St. Ignatius and previously taught at prestigious Calvert Hall College High School.

“We are in the middle of what one would think is an all-hands-on-deck effort to protect children.”

Time running out for settlement

Attorney Jonathan Schochor says when the case concludes, he'll begin negotiating with individual parishes where abuse occurred. All 22 law firms are ready to file if the deadline passes.

“We're not out of time, but we're running out of time.”