MINNESOTA
Fox 9
by Bill Keller
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) –
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is expected to announce a major settlement in a clergy sex abuse lawsuit, just weeks before a trial was set to start. Attorney Jeff Anderson will present terms of the settlement to a judge Monday morning.
For decades, Anderson has been trying to hold the Catholic Church accountable for alleged abuse by priests and other clergy. On his Twitter account, Anderson said, “this will be the first time in 30 years [he] has stood with archdiocese officials to work in cooperation for child protection.”
Details of the confidential settlement between victims and the church will be presented to a Ramsey County judge later Monday morning.
The lawsuit, involving John Doe No. 1, was scheduled to go to trial in just a few weeks, but sources said the settlement also covers hundreds of others who are accusing the clergy of sexual abuse. Anderson said not only will there be a financial settlement, but there will also be new protocols put in place on how to handle future claims of sexual abuse against priests.
Legal action against several dioceses has not only triggered the release of thousands documents and forced the church to release the names of known offenders, but the deposition of top church officials including Archbishop John Nienstedt.
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