Judge Rules Parishes Should Have Greater Say in Twin Cities Archdiocese Bankruptcy

By Jean Hopfensperger
Star Tribune
May 7, 2015

http://www.startribune.com/judge-parishes-should-have-greater-say-in-twin-cities-archdiocese-bankruptcy/302971971/

The 187 Catholics parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will have a greater voice in the church’s bankruptcy proceedings.

On Thursday U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Kressel ruled that the court would appoint a creditors committee representing parishes.

Parishes aren’t adequately represented by the official creditors’ committee, which is composed of five clergy abuse survivors, argued Mary Jo Jensen-Carter, an attorney representing about 100 parishes.

Parishes have significant claims against the archdiocese, parish attorneys argued, including overpayments to its insurance funds and liabilities from clergy abuse of priests appointed by the archdiocese.

Rob Kugler, the attorney representing the creditors committee, argued against the appointment of a separate committee for parishes. He said it was a conflict of interest for parishes, as they are an arm of the archdiocese.

At the hearing Kressel also chastised the archdiocese for the relatively small legal notices is it running to notify clergy abuse victims of their Aug. 3 deadline to file a claim.

“Nobody reads legal notices,” said Kressel. “That’s not going to notify anyone. If that’s what you’re doing, that needs to change.”