As a result of the bankruptcy, the diocese was forced to sell off property, including the bishop's residence, to pay for a financial settlement to abuse victims.

The greatest honor the bishops could extend to abuse victims, he said, would be to "radically change your behavior."

He also said the diocesan insurance fund covered such continuing assistance to abuse victims.

The timing of the closure coincided with the Archdiocese' payoff of a $660 million settlement to abuse victims.

Although archdiocesan officials have repeatedly said parish collections and other donations would not be used to pay for legal settlements to abuse victims, some parishioners have remained skeptical.

When it comes to abuse victims, though, this finding is rarely trumpeted, for fear that saying abuse isn't always inevitably harmful is tantamount to saying it's not always bad.

Recently, Clohessy has faced legal trouble for failing to release information on alleged clergy abuse victims.

He said he would meet with and apologize to abuse victims and indicated a willingness to hear what priests and lay groups had to say about reforms.