Ramsey County attorney says some priest abuse allegations may be too old to prosecute

The Republic
September 10, 2014

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/76c012ce2fb1427688c806e5dfd2c81a/MN--Church-Abuse-Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — A county attorney in Minnesota says some allegations of priest abuse may be too old to prosecute.

The statute of limitations in 10 cases of alleged sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests will be a barrier to prosecution unless a loophole can be found, said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi.

St. Paul police have been investigating claims of clergy abuse involving the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Several lawsuits have been filed against the archdiocese since a state law took effect last year that extended the statute of limitations for filing civil claims in alleged child sexual abuse cases. It gave alleged victims who were at least 24 years old when it took effect up to three years in which to sue, regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred. Those younger than 24 don't have limits on when they can sue. Previously, people had until age 24 to sue in such cases.

Choi told the Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1ukPVgH ) that he expects to announce in about a month whether he'll press charges in any of the 10 cases. Prosecutors will soon begin focusing on what church leaders knew about the abuse allegations, when they knew it and how they responded, he said.

Victim advocates and Choi said the absence of criminal charges doesn't mean a person's allegations are without merit.

"There are multiple ways that victims experience justice," said Donna Dunn, executive director of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault. "Sometimes it's through a guilty verdict. Oftentimes, it's just the acknowledgment of being heard and being believed."

Meanwhile, the Ramsey County Board voted Tuesday to fund three new staff positions in Choi's office to continue investigating clergy abuse.