The bankrupt Catholic Diocese of Wilmington began its court fight Wednesday with

victims claiming sexual abuse by its priests over the value of its estate and how much will be available for claims.

Attorneys for most of the 142 victims indicated they may seek to expand the bankruptcy to include parishes that operate in the Delaware-based diocese but were not part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing Sunday.

The attorneys for the diocese pledged an open process that they said would be the quickest way to resolve the claims that stem from alleged abuse beginning as far back as 1954.

The diocese became the seventh in the United States to seek bankruptcy protection, and its filing put on hold the scheduled start of eight civil trials relating to a defrocked priest.

Attorney James Patton, representing the diocese, opened the hearing by acknowledging the abuse by priests.