Statement Regarding Minnesota Supreme Court Ruling on Adamson Litigation

Yesterday’s Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, rejecting the use of repressed memory to extend the state’s six year statute of limitations, confirms and upholds the previous trial court ruling in the case of Thomas Adamson, who was assigned as a priest in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis more than 30 years ago.

Adamson was removed from public ministry in 1984, and the sexual abuse claims made about him in today’s press conference have been public for over two decades. The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis deeply regrets any pain or harm caused by Adamson. As we have stated over the past two decades, we are very sorry for any mistakes made in the handling of this situation.

The archdiocese is completely committed to ensuring the safety of children and young people who have been entrusted to our care in all of our facilities and programs. We continue to implement all of the requirements of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in July of 2002. These include background evaluations of adults who serve with minors as well as the training of our priests, religious, lay staff, teachers, coaches, volunteers and the children in our schools and religious education programs.

Mandatory reporting of any and all instances of clergy or lay sexual misconduct is an absolute policy that is followed throughout the archdiocese. We strongly encourage anyone having knowledge of sexual misconduct within a parish to call the proper authorities or to notify the archdiocese at 651-291-4497.