BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Sunday’s mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church started like any other. A packed sanctuary filled with hundreds of members in its church community.

But the typical Sunday mass didn’t end with just the concluding rites.

“We, as a parish stand to lose nine and a half million dollars, which is on deposit with the diocese right now,” said Monsignor Perry Kavookjian with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton church.

The Diocese of Fresno, which includes churches in counties from Kern to Merced, faces more than 150 sexual abuse cases involving former clergymen spanning over decades.

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The statue of limitation on most of the cases was removed by the California legislature allowing victims or their families to sue.

In July of 2025, the Dioceses filed for bankruptcy.

“Our diocese, like others in California, is considered cash poor, and so any settlement will require the sale of assets such as various properties that are not in use, along with any cash holdings that the diocese has,” Kavookjian said.

But those assets, according to Monsignor Perry Kavookjian, include the funds several Bakersfield churches deposited with the Diocese.

That includes money for the construction of a new church building for St Elizabeth’s and money set aside for church programs.

“It is a huge disappointment for me and for all of our parishioners who have faithfully contributed to the capital campaign over the years,” Kavookjian said. “In the meantime, we will end our capital campaign and we will no longer raise money for a new church.”

We reached out to the Diocese of Fresno for a comment on how the bankruptcy will impact the money invested by local churches.

A spokesperson told us that it’s their policy not to comment on pending litigations.

As for local churches like St. Anne’s and Our Lady of Guadalupe, they pray for a good outcome for all.

“The entire diocese will go through a painful process. Things will not look the same after we are done. Maybe things will turn out for the better. We just need to pray for a just and fair outcome.”

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