St. Paul attorney calls for grand jury investigation of state’s Catholic dioceses

In a press conference Aug. 22 in St. Paul, attorney Jeff Anderson called for Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton to convene a grand jury to investigate what Anderson said are “crimes committed by predator priests against innocent children” and bishops “who are complicit in those crimes and who have chosen to cover it up.”

Anderson said the request was inspired by the recent grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania, which uncovered more than 1,000 victims of abuse and at least 300 offenders.

According to an Aug. 22 press release issued by the Diocese of St. Cloud, the decision about whether to convene a statewide grand jury is for others to make.

“If one is convened, the Diocese of St. Cloud will fully cooperate. In 2016, the diocese provided all files and documents related to the sexual abuse of minors that were requested by Jeff Anderson and Associates as part of a case before the court at that time. From April 2016 to October 2016 the diocese turned over some 13,500 pages of documents to plaintiffs’ attorneys,” the release stated.

The press release also said that in the interest of transparency and accountability the bishop released four and a half years ago a list of clergy likely to have abused minors in the diocese. When additional clergy are identified, the list is updated.

The full list, as well as contact information for victim advocates and county officials to whom abuse can be reported, can be viewed at: http://stcdio.org; click on “Accountability/Safe Environment.”

The Minnesota Child Victims Act, which lifted for three years the civil statute of limitations for allegations of past sexual abuse of minors, ended in May 2016. During that time, 74 civil claims were made against the St. Cloud Diocese. The claims named 31 members of the clergy who served in the diocese and 30 parishes.

The diocese is still planning to file for bankruptcy reorganization and “continues its discussions and cooperation with plaintiffs’ attorneys to reach a consensual agreement on the plan,” the statement said. “Filing for reorganization is the best way to ensure that the maximum amount of resources will be distributed equitably to all the victims and survivors while allowing the ministries of the diocese to continue.”

 

Author: The Visitor

The Visitor is the official newpaper for the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

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