{"id":18604,"date":"2017-03-07T07:02:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-07T07:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/minnesota-diocese-facing-abuse-lawsuits-files-for-bankruptcy-59416\/"},"modified":"2017-03-07T07:02:00","modified_gmt":"2017-03-07T07:02:00","slug":"minnesota-diocese-facing-abuse-lawsuits-files-for-bankruptcy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2017\/03\/minnesota-diocese-facing-abuse-lawsuits-files-for-bankruptcy\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota diocese, facing abuse lawsuits, files for bankruptcy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Minneapolis, Minn., Mar 7, 2017 \/ 12:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Facing over one hundred lawsuits concerning sex abuse claims dating back to the 1950s, the Diocese of New Ulm has filed for bankruptcy and plans a reorganization.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have come to the conclusion that financial reorganization is the fairest way to compensate victims and survivors of sexual abuse while continuing the good work of the Church in our communities,\u201d Bishop John LeVoir of New Ulm said March 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cFiling for financial reorganization is not an effort to avoid responsibility. But rather, it is the only way the diocese can assure that available assets are fairly utilized to resolve all the pending sexual abuse claims against it,\u201d the bishop said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we were to resolve the cases on a piecemeal basis, available diocesan assets could be exhausted in the first few cases, leaving nothing for the remaining claimants.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are a total of 101 lawsuits against the New Ulm diocese and some of its 75 parishes. The diocese, located in south-central Minnesota, serves about 60,000 Catholics.<\/p>\n

Most of the lawsuits concern incidents that allegedly took place from the 1950s through the 1970s. The suits were filed under a Minnesota law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for cases of sexual abuse of children. The diocese said no priests accused of abuse are presently in public ministry.<\/p>\n

Bishop LeVoir acknowledged concerns about the reorganization. He said parishes, schools and other Catholic organizations are not part of the reorganization.<\/p>\n

The bishop described the reorganization as \u201ca step towards the future\u2026 a future that I pray brings healing for victims and survivors as well as renewed hope for parishioners and our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

He again voiced his \u201cdeepest apologies\u201d to those sexually abused by clergy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes great courage to come forward to share your experiences. You deserve not only our compassion but also fair compensation to help you in your healing,\u201d Bishop LeVoir said.<\/p>\n

He added that abuse victims are in the diocese\u2019s daily prayers.<\/p>\n

The bishop cited \u201cgreat strides\u201d in efforts to provide safe environment for children, noting the diocese\u2019s training for young people, volunteers and employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must remain faithful to Jesus Christ and diligent in this work, so that this tragic chapter in our Church\u2019s history is never repeated,\u201d he said. \u201cGuided by our faith in the Lord, let us move forward together as a church family, never forgetting the past but always hopeful for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

He prayed that God\u2019s grace may bring \u201chope, healing and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

The New Ulm diocese is the third in Minnesota to file for bankruptcy. Fourteen U.S. dioceses have declared bankruptcy, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.<\/p>\n

Minnesota is one of four states to approve a temporary legal window to allow the filing of historic sex abuse claims.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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Minneapolis, Minn., Mar 7, 2017 \/ 12:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Facing over one hundred lawsuits concerning sex abuse claims dating back to the 1950s, the Diocese of New Ulm has filed for bankruptcy and plans a reorganization.<\/p>\n

“I have come to the c…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nMinnesota diocese, facing abuse lawsuits, files for bankruptcy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Minneapolis, Minn., Mar 7, 2017 \/ 12:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Facing over one hundred lawsuits concerning sex abuse claims dating back to the 1950s, the Diocese of New Ulm has filed for bankruptcy and plans a reorganization. “I have come to the c...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2017\/03\/minnesota-diocese-facing-abuse-lawsuits-files-for-bankruptcy\/\" 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