Judge Oks Settlement in Minn. Church Abuse Case

KTTC
October 13, 2014

http://www.kttc.com/story/26770062/2014/10/13/settlement-reached-in-clergy-sex-abuse-lawsuit

[with video]

- Catholic church leaders in Minnesota say they won't recommend any priest for active ministry if they've been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

The pledge is part of child protection protocols called for in Monday's settlement of a groundbreaking public nuisance lawsuit against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona.

Church leaders were accused of failing to warn parishioners about an abusive priest.

The protocols also call for church leaders to disclose any accusation of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest when asked, along with the resolution. And church leaders pledge to release documents when claims are substantiated.

In a statement, Winona Bishop John Quinn said the terms of the settlement agreement are confidential. He said the settlement fully resolves all issues in this case related to sexual abuse by former priest Thomas Adamson. Adamson, a native of Byron, was ordained a priest in 1958 and got his first assignment in Winona with pastoral duties at St. Casimir's Parish. Adamson was removed from ministry in 1985 and defrocked in 2009.

Adamson admitted in a videotaped deposition that he had molested at least 10 teens while working as a priest in Winona and the Twin Cities, and attempted to sexually molest many more.

Quinn's full statement reads:

Today the Diocese of Winona, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Plaintiff, known as Doe 1, have agreed to fully settle a lawsuit pending in Ramsey County District Court. At the request of the Plaintiff, the terms of the Settlement Agreement are confidential. Doe 1 has asserted claims of negligence and public and private nuisance against the Diocese of Winona. Today's settlement fully resolves all issues in this case that stems from the sexual abuse by former priest of the Diocese of Winona, Thomas Adamson.

We are ashamed of the horrific crimes that Thomas Adamson has perpetrated against children in our Diocese and in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. We are committed to ensuring the safety of the children entrusted to our care in our schools and in our parishes. As part of the settlement in this case the Diocese of Winona has committed to a series of child protection protocols which will further help to ensure the safety of all of God's children. Most of the child protection protocols that the Diocese of Winona has committed to have been previously adopted and implemented. This agreement reaffirms the existing protocols and demonstrates our resolve and conviction to take every possible step to ensure the safety of all God's children. The protocols are posted on the Diocese of Winona website along with our entire Safe Environment Program www.dow.org/safeenvironment.

The Diocese of Winona remains committed to providing support and healing to those who have been tragically abused by clergy. We encourage anyone that has been abused recently or in the past to report the abuse to civil authorities.

Look for coverage of this settlement throughout the day on the NewsCenter and KTTC.com as we learn more.