A U.S. bankruptcy judge rules that clergy abuse claimants in the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese’s bankruptcy reorganization may sue to reach certain parish assets to help fund settlements. The court decision permits claimants to pursue an estimated $500 million in parish-related assets, according to reports. The ruling comes as the diocese seeks to manage and restructure its finances through the current bankruptcy process. Claimants’ ability to file lawsuits for access to church assets is expected to shape how potential settlement negotiations and distributions proceed during the case. The decision does not finalize compensation amounts, but it opens a pathway for claimants to test and seek recovery from parish holdings as part of the broader reorganization. The Diocese’s financial reorganization continues under court oversight, with parties addressing how assets are categorized and what sources may be available to satisfy abuse-related claims.