Court approves $34 million clergy abuse settlement with Minnesota diocese
NEW ULM, Minn. — After tearful testimony by several survivors of clergy sexual abuse and a heartfelt apology from Bishop John LeVoir, the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm and area churches won approval Tuesday of a $34 million settlement with nearly 100 claimants.
Just as important to the victims: The diocese agreed to adopt 17 protocols designed to protect children from abuse going forward and to turn over its files on credibly accused priests.
Nineteen people — abuse survivors and their supporters — stood inside a Brown County courtroom to witness the resolution of the Diocese’s bankruptcy case and hear a formal apology from LeVoir from the witness stand.
“I apologize again on behalf of the church to all who have been harmed by clergy sexual abuse,” LeVoir said.
He said he hoped that settlement and the adoption of child protection protocols would help them heal and provide some peace of mind.
“I pray for this daily knowing we can never truly compensate you” for the years of suffering endured, LeVoir said, thanking them for coming forward with their stories. He said it was their courage that forced church leaders to “face what we did and what we failed to do.
“We should have taken responsibility and shared the truth on our own,” LeVoir said.
Steven Condon, a Texas resident who was abused as a boy when he lived in Silver Lake, Minn., said joining the lawsuit was the hardest decision of his life.
“It was difficult for me to go against the church I still faithfully followed,” Condon said tearfully. “Yet as I had to atone for my sins, so, too, the church must atone for its sins.”
He said no amount of compensation can erase what the abuse survivors have endured, some of whom could not bring themselves to come forward even now.
Mary Nelson, of Marshall, Minn., said the abuse she suffered left her unable to form solid personal relationships, even with her own children.
“I didn’t understand what had happened, and why,” Nelson said.
“What I find particularly egregious in my case was that the priest was transferred to another parish and then another,” she said, adding that he was later removed from active clergy but was transfe...
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director