Diocese of Tucson Files for Bankruptcy

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson (search) filed for bankruptcy protection Monday under the weight of debt and pending litigation from clerical sex abuse cases.

The diocese is only the second in the nation to seek the protection of a bankruptcy court in the wake of extensive and continuing legal action stemming from sexual abuse of children by parish priests.

The Portland (Ore.) Archdiocese was the first when it filed July 6.

The decision will subject the Tucson Diocese's financial operations to court scrutiny for the first time, and potentially open the way for non-church interference.

Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas (search) had signaled his intent in June, telling parishioners in a letter that bankruptcy protection appeared to be the only option remaining for the diocese, which serves some 350,000 Catholics in 75 parishes.

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Another one...I hope this is a mistake.