MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
Article by: CHAO XIONG , Star Tribune Updated: September 10, 2014
Criminal charges against priests in 10 cases involving the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are not likely.
Criminal charges are not likely to be filed in 10 cases of alleged sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests because the incidents are so old, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said.
The statute of limitations in each case “is going to be a barrier,” he said, unless loopholes can be found to circumvent time constraints. “But,” Choi added, “I’m pessimistic about that.”
Choi’s comments follow nearly a year of investigation by St. Paul police into cases of alleged clergy abuse involving the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The criminal investigations in Ramsey County followed a series of lawsuits filed against the church since a 2013 state law allowed the filing of suits for claims dating back decades.
The cases have gripped the state and church while taxing local law-enforcement resources.
Choi said that he expects to announce official charging decisions in about a month regarding the 10 cases, one involving a deceased suspect.
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