Chapter 11 Bar Date Set for Feb. 1, 2012

The office of Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee, sent this email to the faithful of southeastern Wisconsin on June 22, 2011.

On May 5th, Archbishop Listecki sent an email letting Catholics know that the archdiocese would be asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to set a claims bar date or “final call” for anyone with a monetary claim against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in the Chapter 11 reorganization process.

As Archbishop Listecki has said from the beginning, our goal in this process is to provide equitable compensation for the unresolved claims of victims of clergy abuse, while ensuring our ability to carry on the essential ministries of the Church in southeastern Wisconsin.

Initially we had asked the Court to set that date for mid-September, but in response to our request, the Creditors’ Committee asked for the date to be set for one year from now. Today was the hearing to determine what date would be set by the Court.

In discussion with the Creditors’ Committee, important considerations were raised about the need for abuse survivors to have enough time to come forward to make their claim. In considering those issues, we worked with the Creditors’ Committee to agree to a date of February 1, 2012, and the Court affirmed this date at today’s hearing. Although we would have preferred an earlier date, we also want to be sensitive to the needs of abuse survivors. Coming forward to make a claim is not easy for an individual survivor of sexual abuse. Working together with the committee has helped us establish a date that allows sufficient time for individuals to file claims, but also one that keeps the reorganization process moving forward.

We remain committed to keeping you informed of all developments in this proceeding.

As part of the notification process, parishes and schools will be asked to help us communicate this bar date. More information about that will follow in the weeks and months to come.

PLEASE NOTE:  The General Creditors' Bar Date has been set for October 11, 2011 at 4 p.m. (Prevailing Central Time).