On Friday, January 16, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN has filed for bankruptcy protection as a way to continue its everyday ministry and services while getting more resources to victims of clergy sexual assault.
According to ABC News, the archdiocese — which, with a parishioner base of 850,000 Minnesotans, is the largest in the state — is the 12th diocese in the U.S. to have filed for bankruptcy help in the wake of sexual abuse claims.
The archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing estimates that its assets are between $10 million and $50 million, with its liabilities amounting between $50 million and $100 million. In a press conference following the filing, Archbishop John Nienstedt said the archdiocese would likely have to sell off some of its assets to repay the debts it owes to its 200 to 300 creditors.
Mike Finnegan, one of the attorneys representing the victims, stated that the archdiocese’s move to seek bankruptcy help won’t do anything to stop scrutiny of the church. At the same time, he also remarked that church officials have “promised to treat victims fairly during this process.”
However, Patrick Noaker, another attorney for the victims, said the bankruptcy won’t do anything to protect past and future victims, ABC News reports.
“The process of bankruptcy is not going to make kids safer,” Noaker said. “I don’t think it’s any accident that they filed a week before this trial was going to start.”
Victims of clergy sexual abuse have been granted a three-year window to file claims outside the statute of limitations by Minnesota lawmakers; since the window to file claims opened in 2013, about two lawsuits have been filed against the church in addition to 100 additional notices from victims who could have potential claims.
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