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Minnesota churches settle clergy abuse lawsuit

By WTOP Staff

AMY FORLITI
Associated Press

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Victims of clergy sex abuse stood next to Catholic church leaders in Minnesota on Monday to announce a settlement to a novel lawsuit that includes new measures to keep children safe.

The settlement averts a November trial of the claim that the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona created a public nuisance by failing to warn parishioners about an abusive priest.

“We forged a new way and that new way is an action plan — an action plan that not only protects kids in the future, but honors the pain and sorrow and grief of the survivors of the past,” victims’ attorney Jeff Anderson said.

Among the new protocols: Church leaders won’t recommend a priest for active ministry or for a position working with minors if they have been credibly accused of sexual abuse; they won’t conduct an internal investigation or “interfere in any way” with law enforcement investigations; and each clergy member will sign a declaration stating he has not abused a minor.

The measures differ from national policy set forth by U.S. bishops more than a decade ago by requiring the archdiocese to reveal the names of all abusers and documents related to their cases. They also spell out in greater detail the care the archdiocese is required to provide victims, among other provisions.

However, it is unclear how the protocols could be enforced, given that they involve the internal workings of the church.

“The church is no longer our enemy in this. They are our ally,” said Al Michaud, a victim of clergy abuse. “I’m going to admit that I’m skeptical … but I hope everything I’m hearing today is true.”

The case is believed to be the first such nationwide to use the public nuisance theory. That claim allowed victims’ attorneys to seek evidence of sexual abuse across the archdiocese, rather than focus on allegations against one individual.

It forced the unprecedented disclosure of tens of thousands of church documents and the names of dozens of accused priests. The flood of information included the public release of court-ordered depositions of Archbishop John Nienstedt and other church leaders, revealing how top officials handled allegations of misconduct by priests.

Nienstedt has apologized for any mistakes but has said he won’t step down. He also said he doesn’t believe he mishandled the situation.

He missed Monday’s announcement because he is on a mission trip to Kenya. In a statement, he called the protocols “a historic moment in our efforts to assure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.”

Many of the child safety measures outlined Monday had already been mandated 14 years ago in the reforms U.S. bishops adopted at the height of the abuse scandal. The archdiocese came under fire last year in part because local church leaders had not been following some central requirements of the national policy, including keeping all guilty priests from assignments where they would have access to children.

“We are humiliated, yet we are humbled by the grace of God to be here today,” said Twin Cities Archdiocese Vicar General Charles Lachowitzer.

Anderson, a longtime critic of the way the church has handled abuse claims, said he hopes this deal works. He said his office will be involved in investigating abuse claims, and along with law enforcement will have full access to church files.

Tim O’Malley, former head of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, has been tapped to handle abuse allegations. O’Malley said that so far church leaders have been candid in answering his questions.

“How that’s going to play out in the long run, I’m not going to pretend like I know. But I will tell you in the first three weeks I’ve been very encouraged,” O’Malley said.

At one point during Monday’s news conference, about 20 victims of clergy abuse came forward and shook the hands of church leaders. Some couldn’t hold back tears.

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AP Religion Writer Rachel Zoll contributed from New York.

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Follow Amy Forliti on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyforliti

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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