More suits against Diocese

The Roman Catholic diocese in Vermont has been hit with two new lawsuits claiming it transferred assets to avoid paying the alleged victims of priest sex abuse. The lawsuits were filed in state and federal court this week by 27 people with cases pending in Chittenden Superior Court, along with several of those who won damages and are awaiting rulings on appeals. The lawsuits claim the diocese started shifting church assets into trusts in 2005, putting them beyond the reach of creditors, including the alleged victims. Tom McCormick, an attorney for the Diocese, maintains the diocese did not engage in any fraudulent transfers.