Church may avoid trial

Guam’s Catholic church will file for bankruptcy – a move that lawyers say will allow the archdiocese to avoid trial in dozens of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by priests and move towards settlements. The announcement was made at a news conference in Guam yesterday. Attorney Leander James, a lawyer working with alleged victims, said that the move is the only ‘‘realistic path’’ to settling more than 180 claims of abuse. James says the filing will halt all lawsuits and create a deadline for victims to file claims. He says anyone who has not yet come forward should do so.