Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis files for bankruptcy

View the bankruptcy petition at http://bit.ly/1KQH2De 

Attorney for victims: Bankruptcy not adversarial

St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson had been working with the archdiocese on a bankruptcy filing since last fall, and made a point to say this is not an adversarial move. Anderson said bankruptcy is a way to make sure all victims of abuse are dealt with equitably.

"We can fight if we have to, but we don't believe we have to," Anderson said. "We believe we can work together."

Archbishop Nienstedt said the decision to file for bankruptcy was made "thoughtfully, prayerfully and collaboratively" through consultations with financial and legal experts, law enforcement and advocates of child sexual abuse victims. The archbishop made a short statement Friday at the Monsignor Hayden Center in St. Paul.

"I do not intend to resign," Nienstedt said. "I requested this at the bequest of the holy father."

What it means

Pending lawsuits against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will stop at the end of January 2015. 16 lawsuits and an additional 112 claims will all now go to bankruptcy reorganization.

The archdiocese is well-insured, filing a claim with its insurance companies in November.

FAQ and resources

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has created a website with FAQs, legal and financial documents and other resources at http://information.archspm.org