Many questions were posed during the recent March 3, 2026 Town Hall meeting hosted by the Official Committee of Survivors. The following are those that the Committee and its legal counsel Stinson LLP wanted to make sure received a response. To view the complete Town Hall and see other important questions answered please click this link.
Are there signs of closure this year?
Yes. But in fairness, there are also signs that it could take longer. The reality of church bankruptcy cases is that they are extremely complicated and that many parties other than Survivors can directly influence how long it takes to find a solution. We could have had a deal done very quickly, but it would have been a very unfair deal for Survivors from the Committee’s perspective. The Committee agrees that this is taking too long, but we have learned to focus on what we can control. Our hope is to deliver a fair resolution for Survivors as soon as we possibly can and we work every day to find the best ways to do that.
How often is mediation happening and how many sessions have there been?
The Survivor Committee has been mediating frequently with the Archdiocese and its insurers and those negotiations will continue. So far, dozens of sessions have occurred in the case. This is not unusual in bankruptcies filed by the Catholic Church.
What is the status of claim objections? Would we know if our claim has been objected to?
If you are represented by an attorney then they would have been contacted. If you have any questions you should reach out to your attorney. If you are not represented then correspondence would have been sent to the contact information contained in your claim.
Why do settlements between the Church and survivors in other places not resolve things for Survivors in Maryland?
While the Catholic Church has had bankruptcies in other States, each bankruptcy is separate and one does not have any legal impact on another.
How can we get documents filed in the bankruptcy and learn when the bankruptcy court schedules status conferences?
All documents and appearances in this case can be found at this link: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Baltimore Bankruptcy Adversary Proceedings Case: 23-16969 | Epiq You can also sign-up for “Docket Alerts” to be notified when there are additions.
Have Survivor claims already been reviewed for purposes of payment?
They have not. It is very unlikely that Survivor claims will be reviewed for this purpose until a final settlement is reached. Survivor claimants will receive details about the process once they have been developed and Survivors will have a chance to voice any concerns they may have with the Court. This is something that Survivors should work with their personal attorneys to address.
What if a survivor did not include all details in filing his/her claim and now wants to do that?
Survivor claimants may update their “Claim supplement” to add additional information to their claim and they may also amend their claim altogether. The Committee cannot provide guidance on specifics, but please discuss this with your attorney if you are represented, or e-mail baltimoresurvivorteam@stinson.com if you need a link to relevant forms or examples.
Has the Archdiocese resolved its claims against its insurance companies? In other words is the amount of available Church insurance money no longer disputed?
At this point, there are not yet settlements with insurance carriers, so the amount of insurance money available to pay Survivor claims remains subject to negotiation. The Survivor Committee will continue to pursue fair insurance settlements.
Who ultimately makes the Archdiocese pay claims?
The Archdiocese chose to file for bankruptcy and, because it did, it is now required to pay the claims of Survivors fairly and equitably. The bankruptcy Judge oversees the process and makes sure the requirements of federal bankruptcy law are satisfied. The Survivor Committee is also monitoring the case closely at every turn to make sure things are being done fairly from the point of view of Survivors.
Does the Survivor Committee represent everyone?
The Survivor Committee advocates for the interests of Survivor claimants as a group, but most Survivors also have a lawyer to advocate for them personally. The Committee does not advocate for individual Survivors. The Committee’s main focus is to achieve a settlement with the Archdiocese and its insurers that it believes is fair and equitable. If the Committee is able to do that, Survivors will then have a chance to decide for themselves if they approve of the settlement.
Will the Committee or the bankruptcy court make the Archdiocese release confidential, abusive priest files as part of the bankruptcy?
This issue is a very important one, but the outcome is uncertain. Any proposal about this will become part of a settlement plan that Survivors will have a chance to analyze and voice their opinion on.