Creditors in Vermont Catholic bankruptcy case seek access to an estimated $500M in parish assets

Clergy abuse claimants in Vermont are seeking access to approximately $500 million in parish assets held in trusts by the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024. The diocese transferred parish assets to trusts in 2006 to shield them from survivor claims, but creditors argue the transfers violated fraudulent deeds law. The case involves legal disputes over whether these assets should be available to settle clergy misconduct lawsuits.