Numerous media outlets are reporting this story, with details to follow.

According to Archbishop Listecki, the bankruptcy reorganization is intended to help the archiocese “to compensate victims and survivors while also allowing the church to continue its mission.”

In the past decade, several Roman Catholic dioceses have declared bankruptcy because of the financial fallout from the clergy sex abuse scandal, and at least two other archdioceses–Portland, Oregon and San Diego. The Archdiocese of Boston apparently avoided bankruptcy only by a massive sell-off of assets.

It’s a sad day for the Roman Catholic Church, the latest development in the long history of the scandal; but it’s a sad day for Christianity in general, and can’t make the work of reaching out with the love of Christ to those who don’t know him.