Sex abuse video won't be shown at Twin Cities Catholic churches

A federal bankruptcy judge's decision on Thursday removes the possibility that Catholics in the Twin Cities will have to watch a seven-minute video on clergy sex abuse during church services.

That's what a committee representing abuse victims in bankruptcy proceedings against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was asking for, but Judge Robert Kressel rejected their request, FOX 9 reports.

The video, which features interviews with past victims, was intended to encourage other victims take part in a court settlement with the church. They have until August 3 to file claims.

Showing the video would have been in addition to the church agreeing to publicize the deadline through multiple channels – including national and local newspapers, TV stations, church publications, and its own website – giving people a chance to come forward.

But according to the Pioneer Press, the judge agreed with archdiocese representatives that the court would have intruded too far into religious practices by making all 187 metro-area parishes show the video.

The decision was met with disappointment by attorney Jeff Anderson, who represents the clergy abuse victims and helped secure a settlement between them and the church.

“The archdiocese being opposed to it is disturbing,” Anderson said, according to FOX 9. “It’s disgraceful and I fault them for not allowing for it to be played.”

Meanwhile, the archdiocese says it has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising the deadline for abuse claims, MPR reports.

You can watch the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lBP9rMsl8s