The Roman Catholic Bishop of Sacramento (Diocese of Sacramento), a tax-exempt religious institution serving the Sacramento region, filed for Chapter 11 protection on April 1, 2024 in the Eastern District of California (Case No. 24-21326) driven by more than 250 lawsuits alleging clergy sexual abuse with allegations dating back to the 1950s. The filings were triggered by California's 2019 statute of limitations revival, which opened a three-year window for childhood sexual abuse claims (closed end of 2022); only six claims alleged abuse after the diocese's 2002 institutional reforms. The case features a sophisticated dual-track proof-of-claim process with confidential survivor claim procedures, a Permitted Parties access regime, and formal mediation overseen by Roger L. Kramer to resolve insurance coverage disputes and plan-funding mechanics. The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, represented by Stinson LLP and local counsel, has been engaged in mediation-driven negotiations toward an expected 'pot plan' for equitable distribution of settlement proceeds to survivors. Exclusivity expired October 1, 2025, but debtor and committee entered standstill agreements preserving mediation through March 1, 2026. The diocese is also conducting discrete real property sales with proceeds tied to settlement funding.
