MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio
by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio
October 23, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Recent reports about clergy misconduct in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis threaten to put new financial pressure on an institution already under some financial strain.
Even before recent revelations about alleged misconduct of priests, the archdiocese was concerned about the impact a new law could bring in dozens of new lawsuits against the church for clergy sex abuse. In fact, church officials met privately with attorneys to discuss ways to protect archdiocese assets from creditors.
It’s not easy to put a dollar estimate on costs the archdiocese might face. An MPR News investigation published and broadcast over the past few weeks has found that key church leaders disregarded concerns brought to them over clergy misconduct.
Legal costs are only one concern. Another is the prospect of reduced income.
Some of the people who watch the weekly collection plate at parishes across Minnesota are worried. Negative publicity on how the archdiocese disregarded priest misconduct, they say, could prompt many in the pews to give less.
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