Bishop John Barres

The heavy financial burden of defending over 200 abuse lawsuits led to the decision to seek bankruptcy protection and restructuring Bishop John Barres said.

The grand jury's criticism of Bishop John Barres, formerly the Bishop of Allentown, Pennsylvania was unfounded, based on incorrect facts, the diocese said in a statement posted on its website.

Bishop John Barres, bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, was named in a Pennsylvania grand jury report released yesterday as one of the leaders of the Diocese of Allentown who allegedly participated in covering up the clergy sex abuse scandal there.