Legal Costs Escalate in Kansas City Diocese

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Officials with the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese say the diocese is not considering bankruptcy, despite having paid millions of dollars for legal fees and settlements in sexual abuse cases involving priests.

The Kansas City Star reports the diocese has paid $6 million in settlements on sex abuse cases since May. It also paid $7 million on legal fees for sex abuse cases in the last two fiscal years. And more than two dozen sexual abuse lawsuits and a breach-of-contract case are still pending against the diocese.

A group that has petitioned the Pope Francis to remove Bishop Robert Finn is concerned the lawsuits might force the diocese into bankruptcy.

Spokesman Jack Smith says the diocese's insurance carrier has covered the settlement costs and the diocese is not considering bankruptcy.