Overview

• Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore testified in a unique bankruptcy case hearing, sharing their harrowing experiences.
• The testimony was part of the archdiocese's bankruptcy proceedings, a move criticized by survivors as an attempt to limit their ability to seek justice.
• Archbishop William Lori attended the hearing, emphasizing the importance of listening to survivors for their healing process.
• The Maryland legislature's Child Victims Act, which lifted the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits for child sex abuse, prompted the archdiocese's bankruptcy filing.
• Survivors and advocates see the testimony as a crucial step towards accountability and healing, despite the archdiocese's controversial bankruptcy strategy.