Archdiocese Says It Has Paid More Than $8.8m in Last Decade over Misconduct by Priests

By Steve Karnowski
Star Tribune
February 13, 2014

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/245387111.html

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said Thursday it has paid more than $8.8 million in the last 10 years over clergy sexual abuse and other misconduct by priests.

In its annual financial report, the archdiocese says about $3.2 million of that total went for room, board and living expenses for priests and ex-priests accused of sexual abuse or other misconduct. The archdiocese is required by church law to care for such men, the report says.

Another $2.5 million went to settlements for victims, and nearly $2.3 million paid for counseling and other support services for victims, accounting for 54 percent of the $8.8 million total. The numbers don't include insurance payments.

It's the most up-to-date accounting the archdiocese has provided of the financial impact of the clergy misconduct scandals that continue to rock the church, but the numbers only cover through the end of the 2013 fiscal year on June 30. The figures don't reflect any expenses from a wave of fresh allegations that began last fall after a former church employee became a whistleblower and accused top church leaders of mishandling misconduct allegations against priests.