MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
Article by: JEAN HOPFENSPERGER and TONY KENNEDY , Star Tribune staff writers
Updated: November 20, 2014
Citing growing financial trouble linked to clergy sex abuse cases, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis officials Thursday raised the prospect that it will seek bankruptcy protection.
In its annual report in the Catholic Spirit online newspaper, archdiocese officials said the unfolding settlements of clergy sex abuse cases are a key factor.
The report says litigation claims are expected to grow beyond the $5.3 million the chancery has reserved for them.
“Due to the above there is substantial doubt regarding the Chancery Corporation’s being able to continue as a going concern,” the report says.
“We have settled only two of the legal cases involving clerical sexual abuse of minors,” Archbishop John Nienstedt wrote in his column. “There are 20 more trials that are scheduled. There is still another year and a half for the window created in May 2013, lifting the Statutes of Limitations. We have no idea how many more legal claims may be made against us.”
Archdiocese CFO Thomas Mertens said that the archdiocese would not use reorganization “as a tool to avoid compensating victims/survivors. It would be a way to respond to all victims/survivors by allowing the available funds to be equitably distributed to all who have made claims, not just those who have the earliest trial dates or settlements.’
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