Priest says archdiocese offered him $10K to leave clergy

MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

Madeleine Baran Aug 3, 2015

Earlier this year, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis offered to give a priest who had been convicted of sexual misconduct $10,000 in exchange for leaving the priesthood, according to a court filing by the priest.

The Rev. John Bussmann made the allegation in a claim submitted Monday as part of the archdiocese’s bankruptcy case. He said the archdiocese owes him $680,365 in unpaid salary, living expenses and other support.

Bussmann, 61, refused the archdiocese’s $10,000 offer to leave the priesthood, according to a supplemental document he filed with the claim. “Because Fr. Bussmann considers his vocation a valid calling from Almighty God, he cannot in conscience ‘sell’ his priesthood for any amount of money,” it said.

Bussmann’s filing came on the final day for creditors to file claims against the archdiocese as part of bankruptcy proceedings. At least 342 alleged clergy sex abuse victims had filed claims as of Monday afternoon, according to victims’ attorney Mike Finnegan. At least two other priests accused of sexual misconduct have also filed claims, as have many of the archdiocese’s parishes.

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