Judge to decide on Del. diocese bankruptcy plan

The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington is asking a federal judge to approve its proposed reorganization plan, which includes a $77 million settlement with some 150 alleged victims of priest sex abuse.

The judge was to hold a hearing later today to hear arguments on whether he should confirm the plan.

As part of the settlement, the diocese, its parishes and affiliated entities would be released from future legal claims related to the church sex abuse scandal.

But in a key victory for abuse victims, church officials agreed to turn over internal church documents detailing how the diocese handled pedophile priests, who in many instances were allowed to continue to prey on children for years after their abuse became known.