Archdiocese Sues Insurance Carriers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is suing 20 insurance companies to try to force them to cover its liabilities for clergy sex abuse claims.

The carriers provided liability coverage to the archdiocese going back to the late 1940s through 1986. The archdiocese says it's trying to negotiate a global settlement in over 20 lawsuits by people who say they were abused by priests.

But it says the insurance companies so far have not agreed to contribute to the settlement. So it's asking a federal court to order the carriers to cover the claims and the archdiocese's legal fees.

Archbishop John Nienstedt says in a statement that he hopes the lawsuit will encourage the insurance companies to cooperate in reaching an equitable settlement with the victims and survivors.