Responsibility of relgious orders

[debraran]

If a priest/nun gets in trouble with the law, needs a lawyer, etc. does the order have to pay for everything or the archdiocese? What if it is a long term commmitment like a child? The court can’t expect that a prest who can’t work is going to support someone else…but it’s not ethical to expect nothing either. My mom told me she heard of nuns giving children up for adoption, but a priest can’t do that.It probably doesn’t happen that often, but it must be hard on certain orders if the religious priest, brother or nun has a problem that ends up costing them money they don’t have. Do orders like Fr. Groechels have a vow of poverty, but the church takes care of insurance, illness, things like that?.

 

[puzzleannie]

they are generally covered by liability insurance through the order, diocese, or employer if they work for a school, hospital etc. the big issue in some of the publicized lawsuits is that insurers won’t pay due to allegations that prudence and due diligence were lacking on the part of bishops and administrators, and that claims of class action lawsuits far outstrip liability limits on standard insurance policies. When a priest is laicized the diocese or order an and has sue for expenses and victims of course can sue for restitution, maintenace, child support etc.

the standard advice that would be given a person facing an accusation is to retain their own lawyer and not rely on the lawyer provided by the insurer of the diocese or religous institution. the individual would have to pay for that on their own or ask family and friends for help.

 

[debraran]

Yes, I would think even the most independent order, ones that don’t get a paycheck or stipend, need insurance and a safety net for unexpected things. The scandals with the large payouts and anything like an 18 year chld support though must hit them hard. Most you wouldn’t hear about, but it’s another reason to be very careful with rumors and avoiding scandal at all cost, still investigating things carefully when you hear anything.