There are currently 20 lawsuits against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, with another 100 pending,
causing them to file Chapter 11:
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Friday, saying it cannot meet its financial obligations from an unprecedented wave of clergy sex abuse lawsuits.
The move freezes lawsuits against the church, protecting the archdiocese from creditors while allowing it to develop a reorganization plan.
All financial settlements will now be settled equally amongst victims and some are seeing this bankruptcy as a positive for victims:
Jeff Anderson, the St. Paul attorney handling most of the clergy sex abuse cases, said in a news conference Friday, “It is our belief that the action taken today is necessary.”
“We will do this in a way like it’s never been done before, and not fight and get involved in contention … but in the spirit of cooperation … and healing.”