January 5, 2005
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
bbunce@archdpdx.org
Archdiocese of Portland publishes claims notification
This week the Archdiocese of Portland began an extensive effort to notify anyone who believeshe or she has a claim against the Archdiocese to file the claim by April 29, 2005. The bar date of April 29, 2005 was set by the U. S. Bankruptcy Court as the last day to file claims. This notification process is a normal part of the bankruptcy proceedings. It will assist the Archdiocese and the Bankruptcy Court in establishing the total amount of outstanding debt the Archdiocese owes. The notice is directed to anyone who believes that the Archdiocese of Portland owes them money or to anyone who believes that the Archdiocese is responsible for causing them any injury or harm including child sexual abuse by a member of the clergy or an employee.
The Archdiocese of Portland is placing a legal notice in major newspapers in Oregon, to the USA Today and the Wall Street Journal and to newspapers in Washington, Idaho, Montana, California and British Columbia. The notification will be placed in Catholic newspapers in Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The notification will be sent by mail to creditors, to 81,070 registered Catholic households in western Oregon, to alumni in certain of the Catholic high schools, and to others.
The legal notice states:
YOU MAY HAVE A CLAIM AGAINST THE ARCHDIOCESE
OF PORTLAND
If, while you were under the age of 18, you had sexual contact with or were sexually touched by a Catholic priest, employee, volunteer, or other person working for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon or for a Catholic Parish/School served by the Archdiocese; or
If you believe the Archdiocese is responsible for anything that caused you injury or harm at any age; or
If the Archdiocese owes you any money; or
If you assert a right to payment from the Archdiocese, whether or not you know the amount owed, and whether or not the right to payment is disputed, matured, secured, legal, equitable, or contingent on the happening of some future event; or
If you assert a right to an equitable remedy (e.g., the right to require the Archdiocese to either do or not do something) which would result in the Archdiocese owing you money for its failure to do as required, whether or not the right is disputed, matured, secured, legal, equitable, or contingent upon the happening of some future event.
Claims will be coordinated by the Bankruptcy Management Corporation BMC Group, of El Segundo, CA, an independent claims agent for the Archdiocese. A special web site www.bmcgroup.com/archdpdx will be established to provide interested persons with helpful information, including Proof of Claim forms that can be downloaded, and a toll-free phone number 1-888-909-0100 to answer questions.
The Archdiocese of Portland strongly encourages everyone believing that
they have a claim against the Archdiocese to file the Proof of Claim form
by the bar date: April 29, 2005 by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Those with questions
about a possible claim should call the BMC Group
1-888-909-0100,
not the Archdiocese of Portland or their local parish.
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