The Roman Catholic diocese of Vermont says it could be put out of business, and constitutional protections of religious freedom could be violated by a priest-abuse lawsuit.
The Burlington Free Press cites papers filed by the diocese in U.S. District Court in Burlington. They say paying more big damage awards to victims of long-ago priest sexual abuse could bring those results.
The diocese asks Judge William Sessions III to throw out a lawsuit filed in 2010 by a man alleging that as an altar boy he was molested in Rutland by a priest in 1974.
The Vermont diocese reached what it thought was a final resolution of its priest sexual abuse cases in May 2010 when it agreed to a $17.6 million settlement covering 26 pending cases.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Hackers Hit Sensitive Targets in 37 Nations in Spying Plot 
Credit Suisse Nazi Probe Reveals Fresh SS Ties, Senator Says 
Canceled FEMA Review Council Vote Leaves Flood Insurance Reforms in Limbo 
UBS Top Executives to Appear at Senate Hearing on Credit Suisse Nazi Accounts 
Want to stay up to date?
Get the latest insurance news
sent straight to your inbox.