St. Paul-minneapolis Archdiocese Plan Offers at Least $65 Million to Creditors

WDAY
May 26, 2016

http://www.wday.com/news/4042125-st-paul-minneapolis-archdiocese-plan-offers-least-65-million-creditors


The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has filed a bankruptcy reorganization plan that would set aside at least $65 million to pay clergy abuse victims and other creditors.

The plan filed Thursday also would create a $500,000 fund to pay for counseling for survivors.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda says he believes the plan is fair but might need modifications. He says the church wants a just and timely resolution. See prepared remarks from Hebda at an afternoon news conference here.

Lawyer Jeff Anderson, whose firm has filed most of the abuse claims against the archdiocese since Minnesota gave survivors of past abuse a new chance to sue, says he's reviewing the plan but calls it "predictably deficient." He accused the archdiocese this week of sheltering more than $1 billion in assets to avoid big payouts to abuse survivors.

The Archdiocese's Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan also includes what's called a Compensable Abuse Matrix.

The matrix breaks down a point system, which would be used to determine how much money each victim gets.

For example, if there is sexual intercourse between the accused and a minor, that can be worth up to 100 points.

If there's touching but the minor is clothed, that would count for up to 50 points.

"Having read it, it's, it's sickening really," said abuse survivor Jamie Heutmaker. "I don't know what more to say about it."

Anderson also objected to the matrix, saying the Archdiocese should not control how survivors are compensated.

"For them to say this is the way, and it's their way, is wrong," Anderson explained. "That's up to the survivors and the committee to do when and if we get there, we're far from there."

Asked for comment, Chancellor for Civil Affairs for the Archdiocese Joseph Kueppers provided a statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

"It is understandably jarring to see values assigned to sexual abuse claims," he wrote. "But matrixes are an important tool to assist the court-appointed trustee, whose responsibility it is to fairly and justly distribute limited funds to the many claimants. The system we submitted is similar to those approved by the court in other church bankruptcies. The Archdiocese will not be involved in assessing the values of claims and the matrix is a starting point that is open to negotiation. We are committed to working with the committee representing victims and other claimants to construct a plan that is acceptable to all."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.