Dolan denies hiding $130 million from victims of abuse

Miserere nobis, indeed. Thanks, Bill.

"Dolan said a portion of the disputed money went to help several parishes."

Here is the rub. The diocese gave this money to parishes so the diocese could avoid paying victims of abuse. To add insult to injury the diocese then proceeds to declare bankruptcy. One can see how the dumbest prosecutor would see that he has a real strong case here. It will be very interesting to see the breakdown of that money and what necessity it covered in the chosen parishes. And who were the pastors and other persona involved. Dolan inherited a diocese (NY) which is notorius for its lack of transparency. Seem Rome knew who to choose to succeed the arrogant Egan.

Bill: Do we have to indict him, right now? Kyrie Eleison...

Fraudelent conveyance laws were designed centuries ago to create rules about transfer of assets in advance of bankruptcy and other claims. So, the legal question will be whether this meets the standards for fraudulent conveyance. The moral question will not be resolved by that, of course.

As a lay Catholic, my interest is in seeing parishes for us to worship in, Catholic schools to educate our children, Catholic hospitals to care for our sick, and Catholic cemeteries to bury our dead.  Plaintiffs' lawyers care for none of this; all they want is money, and they are indifferent, at best, to the continued survival of Catholic institutions.  Justice does not mean handing over as much money as plaintiffs' lawayers demand, without regard to the effect it will have on all the parishes, schools, hospitals, and the like built up and maintained by generations of Catholics.

Dioceses/bishops have been ill served in the past by both in house and outside lawyers as we all have witnessed. Canon lawyers seem to have a blind spot that gets them to ignore American law. Fraudelent conveyance penalties will be harsh =, giving parishes money in anticipation of bankrupcy. Having met and watched Lawyer Anderson in action, I would advise Cardinal Dolan to get outside non-Catholic legal advise.

Maria, 

I want to withheld judgement. But Dolan admitted that the funds went to parishes. Most parishes always need money. That amount of money is unprecedented to say the least. The timing is very suspect. Especially, when the diocese followed with the banruptcy proceeding. At any rate I agree with your call for mercy. Miserere nobis!

If Dolan tells the true, i think he should be forgive.