Local donors seek answers after diocese says parish funds may be used in bankruptcy
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Parishioners across Bakersfield are reacting with concern and frustration after church leaders said money raised locally for building projects has been held by the Diocese of Fresno and may be drawn on to help satisfy claims in the diocese’s ongoing bankruptcy proceeding related to sexual abuse allegations.
During weekend services, Monsignor Perry Kavookjian of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church informed congregants that funds collected for a planned expansion were under diocesan control. Church officials say the holdings could potentially be used in the broader financial resolution of abuse claims against the diocese.
The disclosure has reverberated beyond one parish. Multiple Catholic churches in Bakersfield raised money locally for projects and, according to parish leaders, those funds are among diocesan assets now implicated in the bankruptcy. Worshippers and donors said they were surprised and anxious about the fate of dollars intended for local use.
- Parish leaders told congregations the expansion funds were held by the diocese.
- Diocese of Fresno is engaged in bankruptcy proceedings tied to sexual abuse settlements.
- Local parishioners are demanding transparency and answers about their donated money.
Emotions in comment threads and community conversations have been mixed. Some residents demanded accountability for alleged perpetrators, while others questioned the veracity of claims or expressed frustration with how matters have been handled within the church.
"This is incredibly disturbing. I want to know if the clergy responsible for these crimes are arrested and stripped of their authority,"
One commenter wrote that they and others who supported abuse survivors were ostracized within the Catholic community for speaking out. Another comment pushed back against what the writer described as "phony accusations," calling money inadequate to resolve such complex issues.
What this means for Bakersfield churches and donors
For many Bakersfield Catholics, the immediate concern is practical: whether money given specifically for local projects will instead be used to satisfy claims in Fresno. Parish leaders have said these funds were under diocesan stewardship, a common arrangement in which diocesan authorities manage certain financial accounts on behalf of individual parishes.
Attempts to reach the Diocese of Fresno for comment were unsuccessful; local reporters say the diocese declined to comment. Until diocesan officials provide additional detail, parishioners are left with questions about timelines, legal protections for designated donations and what mechanisms exist for reclaiming or protecting locally raised funds.
| Entity | Reported status |
|---|---|
| St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church | Expansion funds held by diocese |
| Other Bakersfield parishes | Local donations also reported held by diocese |
Legal experts not connected to the reporting say that in diocesan bankruptcies, courts and the diocese negotiate a plan of reorganization that can include the pooling of assets to satisfy claimants. How individual donors or parishes fare can depend on how funds are categorized and whether there are clear legal designations protecting restricted gifts. No new legal determinations specific to these Bakersfield funds have been reported publicly.
Locally, some parishioners said they want to see greater financial transparency from both parish and diocesan leaders and clearer guidance on what donors can expect. Others said the revelations are reopening long-standing wounds tied to clergy abuse allegations and the church’s responses.
As the situation develops, Bakersfield congregations are organizing conversations and seeking clarification from diocesan officials. For many donors who gave with the expectation their contributions would fund local building needs, the prospect of those dollars becoming part of a larger settlement pool has prompted calls for accountability, clearer accounting and immediate answers from church leadership.
WE NEWS will continue to follow this story and report on any statements from the Diocese of Fresno, parish responses and legal developments affecting Bakersfield donors.
