From the Editor

By Martin Lasden
     
      There was never anything subtle or difficult to understand about the allegations of sexual abuse leveled against priests in San Diego. However, as our cover story, "An Unholy Dispute" (page 18), describes, the scandal entered a new and more opaque phase last winter when the Catholic Diocese of San Diego filed for bankruptcy protection?the largest church bankruptcy ever. Now, instead of being called "victims," the plaintiffs were referred to as "creditors." And instead of questioning the priests about their behavior, the legal maneuverings were all about how much the diocese's property was worth and whether or not it was trying to hide assets. "It got really convoluted," says research editor Helen Christophi, who, as our deadline approached, kept us up-to-date on the late-breaking claims and counterclaims. "Each side accused the other of trying to mislead the judge," she explains. "But it's not black and white."
      How does one distinguish, for example, between "consolidated" and "combined" assets? On its face, that inquiry isn't going to set anyone's blood on fire. But to the litigants, the question of where the diocese's assets end and those of the individual parishes begin could alone be worth millions of dollars.
      Of course, the more fundamental question here is whether bankruptcy court is the appropriate venue for a dispute in which the creditors are the alleged victims of sexual assault.
      "I had never been to a section 341 hearing [first meeting of the creditors] before," says Ron Donoho, the executive editor of San Diego Magazine who wrote our story. "But I would be willing to bet they're usually not nearly as emotional as the one I saw." As Donoho reports, in early September the diocese chose to settle with 144 sexual-abuse claimants for nearly $200 million.
      Also in this issue, we identify the California lawyers who, in support of the leading presidential candidates, are playing important behind-the-scenes roles (ESQ., "Lawyered Up," page 10). (Note: At the time of our reporting, Fred Thompson had yet to announce.) "When we first started this project," says Senior Editor Jeanette Borzo, "we focused on who is raising the most money. But eventually the focus shifted to who is also providing the most brainpower. It's astounding to me," she adds, "how much political experience these nonpoliticians have. Some of them began working on campaigns as far back as high school."
      As the managing editor of California Lawyer, Tema Goodwin has served as the backbone of this operation, keeping our standards high and our copy running on time. Now, after eleven years, she has decided to accept a new challenge as the managing editor of Boalt Hall's alumni magazine. We will miss her sound judgment, her no-nonsense demeanor, and above all her hearty laugh. The staff wishes her well.
     
     

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