Archdiocese Files Reorganization Plan in Federal Bankruptcy Court

To the Clergy, Religious, and Laity of the Archdiocese of New Orleans:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Survivors of abuse remain in our concern and prayers daily. As I shared with you when we filed for Chapter 11 Reorganization, our main priorities are to assist the abuse survivors on a path towards healing that includes fair and equitable compensation for them while creating a more financially sustainable archdiocesan ministry for the future. Our focus is to reach a settlement agreement that accomplishes this goal.

Today, we reached a milestone in this process. It is with great hope that I share with you that we have filed the CHAPTER 11 PLAN OF REORGANIZATION FOR THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS, DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2024. While there is still much work to do, this will allow us to move forward and begin to bring conclusion to these proceedings. I am grateful that we have had productive and professional conversations with the committees and those who represent them and look forward to this continuing. Those conversations have been a major factor in getting to this point.

The Plan is our proposed settlement to compensate abuse survivors and proposal for how the Archdiocese of New Orleans administration will operate into the future. It will also include a proposed set of “non-monetary covenants” that we are continuing to negotiate with the committee of abuse survivors. These non-monetary covenants are actions that we publicly pledge to take to continue our commitment to ensuring our parishes, schools, and ministries are safe places for all to grow in faith, be educated, and to participate in ministry.

We know that no amount of money can provide complete healing. For most of the survivors, this is suffering that has persisted as long as 40 and even 50 years. For the pain of those that have suffered abuse, we are truly sorry. We regret that abuse occurred causing decades of pain for survivors. We pledge to continue our work that has been effective in protecting children and continue to pray that our actions, outlined in this Plan, will bring healing to survivors now and into the future.

The time and cost associated with this bankruptcy have been frustrating to all and have been of no benefit and unjust to the survivors, today’s church and all interested parties. We also know that today is the beginning of a process to bring closure and that there are many more steps before we reach true conclusion. I wish to request your patience and your prayers as we continue this process.

Again, today is a day of hope for the future of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Please know that I remain committed to moving forward and for healing for our local Church.

Wishing you God’s blessings, I am,

Sincerely in Christ,
 
Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans