MINNESOTA
Wall Street Journal
By TOM CORRIGAN
The Diocese of Duluth, Minn., is expected to enter mediation with clergy sexual abuse victims, following in the footsteps of other bankrupt dioceses that have sought to resolve growing legal and financial turmoil tied to the abuse crisis.
Ford Elsaesser, a lawyer for the diocese, said Friday that the diocese will “very likely” seek the appointment of a mediator. Mediation is likely the best opportunity to resolve the diocese’s bankruptcy case, which was filed Monday, through a settlement that compensates victims and also protects the church from future litigation.
“We’re hoping that this will follow the Helena model as opposed to some of the other case,” Mr. Elsaesser said.
The Diocese of Helena, Mont., which filed for bankruptcy in January 2014, spent less than five hours in court, resolving much of its case in mediation. Other diocesan bankruptcies have stretched out over years, racking up huge legal bills.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.