April 8 deadline set for Diocese of Winona-Rochester child sex abuse filings

By Brian Todd
Post Bulletin
January 30, 2019

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Individuals with a claim of child sexual abuse against the Diocese of Winona-Rochester will need to register that claim no later than April 8. 

According to the diocese's notice of chapter 11 bankruptcy, creditors — victims of abuse by clergy, staff or volunteers — need to file a proof of claim, a signed statement describing a creditor's claim. Proofs of claim can be filed electronically on the court's website at www.mnb.uscourts.gov. No login or password is required.

Alternatively, a Proof of Claim form may be obtained at the same website or any bankruptcy clerk's office. Claims will be allowed in the amount scheduled unless they meet the following criteria:

• The claim is designated as "disputed," "contingent" or "unliquidated";

• Individuals file a proof of claim in a different amount; or

• you receive another notice, according to the bankruptcy documentation.

If an individual's claim is not scheduled or if that claim is designated as disputed, contingent, or unliquidated, creditors must file a proof of claim or risk not being paid on their claim or unable to vote on a plan.

Individuals may review the schedules at the bankruptcy clerk's office or online at www.pacer.gov. 

The diocese is facing 121 pending claims of past child sexual abuse by clergy that have resulted from claims filed under the Minnesota Child Victims Act. To deal with the financial aspects of the claims, the diocese filed for a reorganizational bankruptcy last fall.

Those 121 claims of abuse came from cases that occurred between 1960 and 1986. All clergy against whom accusations have been previously made are either deceased or have been removed from ministry, laicized, and no longer function in any priestly capacity, according to the diocese.