Nearly $10 Million From Closing Churches: A Judge Says Abuse Survivors Can’t Claim the Sale Money

• Baltimore’s archdiocese raised nearly $10 million from church sales
• 61 parishes were merged into about two dozen in the city
• A bankruptcy judge ruled parish sale proceeds are not part of the estate
• More than 900 survivors are seeking settlements

Who owns the money from selling a church? In Baltimore, the answer is costing abuse survivors millions, The Baltimore Banner reported in September 2026.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has raised nearly $10 million from church sales under its “Seek the City to Come” plan, which merged 61 parishes into about two dozen and cut worship sites to about 30 in Baltimore City and parts of Baltimore County. Seven of 30 parishes completed sale contracts shortly after the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy on September 29, 2023.

US Bankruptcy Judge Michelle Harner ruled that the proceeds are not part of the bankruptcy estate available to more than 900 survivors. The archdiocese offered nearly $79 million to a survivors’ trust, plus an estimated $185 million from insurers and $20 million from parish bank accounts. “It’s not like there’s an option as to where the money could go. That money belongs to the parish,” said archdiocese spokesperson Christian Kendzierski.

Survivors reject the distinction. “We all know the parishes are part of the archdiocese. Determining that they are separate is ridiculous,” said survivor Teresa Lancaster. Their attorney, Jonathan Schochor, warned: “These cases are going to crush the archdiocese. They’re looking down the barrel at a catastrophe.” Auxiliary Bishop Adam Parker said: “It feels like we’re being driven to a number that’s beyond what we can pay to continue our ministries.” The judge told the parties: “If there’s not enough money to get a deal done here, let’s let it go, and you can all get it done in state court.”

The case turns on how church property is legally held. Whether a building belongs to a parish, a diocese or a trust decides who controls it, who benefits when it is sold and who can make a claim on it.

Jamaican congregations should know the answer for their own buildings. Is the land in the name of the local church, a denomination, a trust or an individual? That question affects mortgages, sales, insurance and disputes, and it is far easier to settle in advance than in court.

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