A federal judge could decide as soon as today (Tues 10am court hearing) whether a proposed bankruptcy agreement by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis takes effect, after victims of priest sex abuse overwhelmingly approved the settlement last week. Survivors’ attorney Mike Finnegan says it includes 210 million dollars in compensation and locks in child-protection measures at the archdiocese. Finnegan says, “We and these courageous survivors have done everything in our power and everything within this agreement that we can possibly do to protect kids better, now and in the future. So I think it definitely accomplishes that.” Officials with the Archdiocese are not commenting until after the court hearing.
At the same time the issue is in federal court, Governor Mark Dayton wants a meeting with several county attorneys to determine whether they’ll call grand juries to investigate allegations that church officials covered-up priest sex abuse. Finnegan says, “The more on each diocese and each abuse situation like this, the more light that we can put on it and the less that there are secrets, the better kids will be protected.” Leaders of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis say “there has been disclosure… at every stage of the bankruptcy process” and they’re disappointed it’s being criticized as a means of concealing the truth.
More in this interview with Finnegan: