Mission Alignment Process

Two or more parishes remain separate and retain their names but share one or more priests and one administration.

Chapter 11 is a legal mechanism for court-supervised reorganization or restructuring of an organization’s obligations.  Chapter 11 provides a way for an organization to address its financial condition in order to remain a viable entity, while continuing day-to-day operations.

The Diocese believes this is the best way to ensure a fair and equitable outcome for all survivors of clergy sex abuse and provide just compensation to the innocent people who were harmed while allowing the Diocese to stabilize its finances and continue its sacred mission entrusted to it by Christ.  With its current financial resources, RCBO could not shoulder the burden of litigating 330 cases filed under the recent California Assembly Bill 218, which allowed otherwise time barred or expired claims for child sexual abuse.  Now that it has filed, RCBO can work toward a settlement with survivors while maintaining its mission.  

RCBO believes its current and future liquidity will be sufficient to fund normal operations and services during the restructuring process and beyond. Employees will be paid their normal wages, and benefits will continue uninterrupted.  Vendors will be paid for all goods and services delivered after the filing.

RCBO will work to emerge from Chapter 11 as quickly as possible. Given the seriousness of this situation and the importance of providing survivors with fair and equitable compensation, we cannot give a definitive end date at this time.

The tremendous effort accomplished so far in the Mission Alignment Process will be utilized extensively as part of the Diocese’s reorganization. While the implementation of MAP will be impacted by the current claims, it is essential we move forward with MAP, so every Catholic has a home in a vibrant, Christ-centered parish in our Diocese.