MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
[with video]
By Emily Gurnon
egurnon@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 10/13/2014
Attorneys for sexual abuse victims stood alongside church officials Monday in downtown St. Paul to announce the settlement of a sweeping lawsuit and a landmark agreement for future child protection.
“We’ve come here together today because we’ve forged a new way,” said plaintiff’s attorney Jeff Anderson. “That new way is an action plan. It not only protects kids in the future. It honors the grief and sorrows of survivors of abuse.”
Andrew Cozzens, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, said that Archbishop John Nienstedt, who approved of the agreement, wanted to be present but is in Africa confirming African students in a remote village.
“I do want to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry it happened. It shouldn’t have happened,” Cozzens said.
A former courtroom at the Landmark Center was standing-room-only Monday afternoon with abuse survivors, attorneys, media and onlookers.
At one point, Anderson asked all abuse survivors who were willing to come to the front the room. Cozzens and Vicar General Charles Lachowitzer walked down the line of mostly male survivors and shook hands with them. Many survivors wiped away tears.
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