Portland bankruptcy

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 8, 2004 by Joan O'Neill

Regarding Richard Sipe's article "American hierarchy seals its fate" (NCR, July 30): Sipe judges the Portland, Ore., archdiocesan bankruptcy without reference to the local bankruptcy file or local history He claims it is an attempt to deny compensation to victims and to hide information about Fr. Maurice Grammond. The facts are otherwise.

Portland has settled 150 claims for $53 million and its average settlement amount is the largest in the nation if articles in The Oregonian are accurate. Twenty victims of Grammond settled cases and made a sex abuse policy and an apology part of the settlement long before the Dallas charter. There are no secrets in Portland about Grammond or the archbishop who moved him.

Two cases against Grammond were set for trial: C.B. represented by Bill Barton seeking $135 million and J.D. represented by David Slader seeking $24,300,000. C.B. was Barton's only client. Barton has a record of large verdicts in sex abuse cases and has written the proverbial "How-To" book in the field. Although there is a dispute whether the available assets were $10 million (archdiocesan) or $500 million (every parish, school and cemetery), it is entirely possible Barton could have "cleaned out the till" with that one case. No responsible defense attorney could have done anything but advise a client to consider Chapter 11. Chapter 11 will enable provision to be made for all victims, present and future.

It is my understanding that Sipe was to testify in the J.D. trial. If so, he should have disclosed this and whether it was for a fee or pro bono.

JOAN O'NEILL.

Portland, Ore.

[O'Neill is cofounder of Voice of the Faithful of western Oregon.]