On October 13, 2020, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the “Committee”) filed an objection to the Diocese of Syracuse’s motion seeking a proof of claim deadline. The objection included the Committee’s request that the proof of claim deadline be set so that claims be filed by August 14, 2021, so that it would mirror the deadline set by the New York Child Victims Act for bringing claims based on child sexual abuse that were previously barred by statutes of limitation. More information regarding filing a proof of claim can be found on on the FAQ page.

On September 21, 2020, the Diocese of Syracuse filed a motion requesting that the bankruptcy court set the proof of claim deadline on March 1, 2021. More information regarding filing a proof of claim can be found at on the FAQ page.

On July 9, 2020, the United States Trustee, the governmental body tasked with overseeing bankruptcy cases, appointed seven members to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the “Committee”). The Committee was appointed to represent the creditors of the Diocese of Syracuse, including sexual abuse survivors, during the Diocese of Syracuse’s bankruptcy case. More information regarding the role of the Committee can be found at Overview of the Bankruptcy Process.

The Diocese of Syracuse filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 19, 2020. In its initial case filings, the Diocese explained that it filed for bankruptcy to “(a) maximize its assets (including any available insurance assets) in order to provide the greatest recovery for the greatest number of abuse victims; (b) to provide an orderly claims administration process that will ensure fairness in distribution and avoid the inherent inequities in the proverbial “race to the courthouse” that would otherwise result in the most aggressive litigants depleting the Diocese’s assets at the expense of other claimants; and (c) to achieve certainty with respect to the Diocese’s unliquidated and contingent liabilities in a manner that will allow the Diocese to reorganize and continue to fulfil its charitable, humanitarian and religious mission in service of the Catholic faith.”

The Debtor, in its bankruptcy schedules, indicated that at the time it filed for bankruptcy it held assets totaling $35,070,131.82 and liabilities totaling $69,389,307.91.