MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

Article by: JEAN HOPFENSPERGER , Star Tribune Updated: January 16, 2015

Archdiocese declares bankruptcy. Victims’ attorney supports the church’s move, but other victims say filing is a cop-out.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Friday, saying it cannot meet its financial obligations from an unprecedented wave of clergy sex abuse lawsuits.

“I make this decision because I believe it is the fairest and most helpful recourse for those victims/survivors who have made claims against us,” wrote Archbishop John Nienstedt on the archdiocese’s website Friday morning.

In a Friday afternoon news conference, Nienstedt said, “We continue to facilitate the healing process for this local church” to restore confidence in the church.

“Obviously, we have a long journey ahead of us,” he said.

The move freezes lawsuits against the church, protecting the archdiocese from creditors while allowing it to develop a…