Oregon Catholics named in bankruptcy case

PORTLAND, Ore. — A U.S. bankruptcy judge has agreed to expand the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland’s bankruptcy case to include every Roman Catholic parishioner and contributor in western Oregon — more than 389,000 people.

As a result of the July 22 decision, about 80,000 Catholic households received news in the mail that they are defendants in the property dispute between more than 200 sex abuse plaintiffs and the Archdiocese of Portland.

None of the parishioners or contributors will be personally liable for paying claims if they lose the case. But they could see their parish assets sold or put up as collateral for loans to pay settlements.

The legal maneuver, known as a defendant class action, is so rare in bankruptcy court that Judge Elizabeth Perris has never dealt with one in her 21 years on the bench. All parties involved agreed the class action was the best way to get the stalled, 11-month-old property litigation restarted.