Photo: Amy Kerkemeyer/Shutterstock
The Boy Scouts of America may file for bankruptcy.
On Wednesday,The Wall Street Journalreported that the organization is considering filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy and that the Boy Scouts group has hired the Sidley Austin law firm as it deliberates.
A Sidley Austin representative did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment, but in aletterprovided to PEOPLE, chief Scouts executive Michael B. Surbaugh addressed the group’s “financial position.”
“We have an important duty, and an incredible opportunity, to focus as an organization on keeping children safe, supported and protected, and preparing youth for their futures through our nation’s foremost program of character development and values-based leadership training,” Surbaugh said.
Boy Scouts of America.txking/Shutterstock
“To do so in perpetuity,” he continued, “we are working with experts to explore all options available to ensure that the local and national programming of the Boy Scout of America continues uninterrupted.”
The news follows years ofallegations of sexual abusewithin the organization. The Boy Scouts group has paid millions of dollars to law firms as it contends with the legal aftermath of the abuse allegations,TheWall Street Journalreported. Bankruptcy would halt the lawsuits and allow the organization to negotiate with plaintiffs.
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Surbaugh discussed the abuse scandal in his letter. “We care deeply about all victims of child sex abuse and we are steadfast in our belief that one incident of child abuse is one too many,” he said. “We sincerely apologize to anyone who was harmed during their time in our programs.”
Michael Surbaugh.Boy Scouts of America
“I want to stress that at no time in our history have we knowingly allowed a sexual predator to work with youth, and we always seek to act swiftly when alerted to abuse allegations,” he added.
The Boy Scouts organization has also been in the news in recent years for itsannouncement in January 2017that transgender children who identify as boys could be Boy Scouts and itsdecision in October 2017toinclude girlsin the program.
source: people.com
