Bishop John McDermott addressed the decision to file and apologized to victims of clergy abuse.

The Diocese of Burlington filed for bankruptcy on Monday in an attempt to adequately resolve its fourth and largest wave of sex-abuse lawsuits filed against it since the clergy sex scandal broke in 2002. 

“While my heart is heavy with the decision to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy, such weight pales in comparison to the pain suffered by victims of abuse,” Bishop John McDermott said in a video statement released on Wednesday in which he addressed the decision to file and apologized to victims of clergy abuse. 

“This chapter in the Church’s history is horrific, and the harm it has caused, immeasurable,” Bishop McDermott said. “I know that the decision to file for reorganization may be challenging or even triggering for some survivors. For that and for every aspect of dealing with the crimes of these clergy, I sincerely apologize.” 

The diocese currently faces 31 lawsuits — with allegations dating back as far as the 1950s — after the state Legislature repealed the statute of limitations on filing civil claims in 2019 and 2021.

Previously, the diocese had spent approximately $2 million to settle its first nine cases in 2003. In 2010, it paid more than $20 million to resolve 29 more cases and settled 11 cases for $6.75 million in 2013, according to the affidavit. 

To resolve these cases, the diocese utilized its unrestricted funds and liquidated most of its available assets, including its 32-acre Burlington Chancellery on Lake Champlain for $10 million in 2010 and its 26-acre Camp Holy Cross in Colchester for $4 million in 2012. 

The lawsuit will not affect the individual parishes and organizations that operate within the diocese, as their respective assets remain in separate trusts — a move the diocese made in 2006 to protect local parish community funding intended for their own religious and educational purposes from being siphoned into legal settlements. 

In his statement, and in the affidavit he filed on Monday, the bishop explained that filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy was found to be the only way for the diocese to fairly compensate victims of abuse in current lawsuits — and any who might come forward in the future — since the diocese has limited funds, depleted assets, and lacks insurance coverage.

“Through Chapter 11 reorganization, funds will be allocated among all those who have claims against the diocese while hopefully allowing the diocese to maintain its essential mission and ministries,” Bishop McDermott stated.

Bishop McDermott further highlighted the diocese’s efforts to address the scandal and prevent future abuse through its diocesan victims assistance coordinator and its office of safe-environment programs.

According to the affidavit, the diocese released a list in 2019 of 40 of its credibly accused priests, which included information about who they were and where they had been assigned in the dioceses. The diocese removed all accused clergy from priestly ministry, 30 of whom are now deceased.

“Due to the diocese’s efforts since 2002, there has only been one credible and substantiated claim of abuse,” he stated in the affidavit, adding that no current clergy face allegations of sexual abuse.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – With just over a month before the 2024 election, we have resources to help your vote get counted.

Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas has launched the online Vermont voter guide for the November general election.

All federal, statewide, and legislative candidates were invited to submit a profile.

The guide will also include voting instructions and descriptions of the duties for elected positions.

This is the first time this resource is being offered.

Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.

SPRINGFIELD, VT. — “Southern Vermont AHEC is thrilled to have such a high caliber of health professionals join our board,” said Jennifer Scott, PsyD, ABPP. “Many have deep connections to AHEC and will be instrumental in helping us move our vision and mission forward.”

Meet Our New Board Members:

Mindy Dame, MS, RN, is the Director of Intensive Care and Women’s and Children’s Services at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington, Vermont, responsible for the operations and management of a 10 bed ICU that provides critical care to patients with varying diagnoses, and to pediatric, obstetric, and gynecological patients. Her accomplishments include establishing the first Baby Café at SVMC-a free, drop-in, informal breastfeeding support group offering ongoing professional lactation care and intervention. Mindy’s Women’s and Children team, and ICU team, were recipients of the Daisy Award for outstanding clinical excellence and compassionate care delivered by nurses. Mindy is an instructor with Vermont State University and currently enrolled in a doctoral nursing program.

Carlie Felion, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, BC-ADM, is the Community Health Team Lead with North Star Health in Springfield, Vermont and triple-board certified as a family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and in advanced diabetes management. Carlie’s impressive academic credentials include a PhD in Nursing from the University of Arizona, majoring in precision science and minoring in nursing education. Her area of clinical and research interest is healthcare-related psychological trauma. Carlie was the recipient of the prestigious University Fellows Program award, and the Alumni Council Award, and member of the 2020-2022 Arizonia AHEC Scholars Program. Carlie holds a Post-Masters Certificate (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in 2020 from Duke University School of Nursing, an MSN (Family Nurse Practitioner) from Duke University School of Nursing in 2013, BSN in Nursing from Chamberlain College in St. Louis, MO in 2010, where she earned to President’s Honor, and ADN from Vermont Technical College in 2009 graduating Summa Cum Laude. Carlie is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, an international honor society of nurses, and 2014 Vermont Educational Loan Repayment recipient.

Laura Lober, APRN, FNP-BC is a Nurse Practitioner at Mountain Valley Health in Londonderry, Vermont with 25 years of nursing experience. As a board-certified nurse practitioner for the past nine years specializing in family medicine, Laura’s primary focus is to deliver high-quality, patient-centered healthcare. Her philosophy of care is to deliver a comprehensive approach encompassing one’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. A lifelong Vermonter, Laura enjoys hiking, kayaking, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends. Her daughter Emma, a Bellows Falls Union High School graduate, participated in Southern Vermont AHEC’s MedQuest Program in 2018, and is currently pursuing an RN credential. Laura was a Vermont Educational Loan Repayment recipient in 2020 and 2022.

Heddy Pomazi, MHCM, is the Information Services Project Manager at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) in Brattleboro, Vermont. She brings over 10 years’ experience into the realm of hospital and medical practice IT project management. Heddy has earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in healthcare management. She also has a radiology clinical background and educated and trained at the Radiology Technical College in Budapest, Hungary as an advanced radiologic technologist. Heddy worked as a staff Radiologic Technologist and PACS Administrator at BMH for many years before joining their Information Technology Department as Radiology Systems Administrator and then took on the role of EMR Clinical Analyst and later became IT Projects Manager. Heddy’s son Oliver participated in both Southern Vermont AHEC’s MedQuest and CSHIP Programs. Her daughter Eve, a dental student at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, is also an alum of the MedQuest and CSHIP Programs. Eve even created a series of children’s oral health videos that are featured during National Dental Health Month in February.

For more information on Southern Vermont AHEC visit www.svtahec.org