Adobe Stock
The more than 150 sex abuse lawsuits filed against the Diocese of Fresno, California, could take years to be resolved while the diocese undergoes reorganization following its recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, a local NPR affiliate reported.
In a July 1, 2025, open letter, Fresno Bishop Joseph Brennan stated that the diocese finally filed for bankruptcy and expressed confidence that “this path is the only path that will allow us to handle claims of sexual abuse with fair, equitable compassion while simultaneously ensuring the continuation of ministry within our Diocese.”
He added that the diocese now enters a reorganization process, during which the bankruptcy court “will oversee the allocation of available assets to satisfy the claims against the Diocese.”
According to NPR affiliate KVPR, the diocese currently is faced with 153 lawsuits filed by victims of clergy sex abuse. Similar to other dioceses in California, the diocese decided to file for bankruptcy to continue operating while coming up with a plan to make financial restitution to the victims.
CatholicVote reported last May that Bishop Brennan announced that the diocese would file for bankruptcy in August 2024. However, the diocese later said that it was delaying the filing until an unspecified date, stating that it was taking time to ensure that it was adequately prepared to file for bankruptcy and achieve its goals.
KVPR reported that the diocese estimates it has 1,000 to 5,000 creditors, $50 to $100 million in assets and $50 to $100 million in liabilities. A bankruptcy attorney unaffiliated with the diocese or sex abuse cases said that the process of determining how much money the diocese has available and how much victims will be compensated could take two to three years.
According to KVPR, an attorney for several plaintiffs alleging they were abused by clergy has filed a motion in a superior court, requesting that a judge demand evidence from the diocese explaining why the filing was delayed last year.
