An MPR News investigation

Betrayed by Silence

For decades, leaders of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have been reassigning, excusing and overlooking sexually abusive priests among their ranks. Some received additional retirement benefits. In August, a top church lawyer, shocked at what she saw, brought the story to MPR News. What happened next is still unfolding.

LATEST: Suit seeks to hold Vatican at fault for abuse by U.S. priests

The Essential Guide

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Twin Cities and beyond

MPR News Investigations

Betrayed by Silence: The investigation in four chapters

Betrayed by Silence: The investigation in four chapters

Latest Stories

May 13, 2019

Suit seeks to hold Vatican at fault for abuse by U.S. priests

Nov 19, 2018

Winona-Rochester diocese plans bankruptcy amid abuse lawsuits

Nov 12, 2018

Deceased bishop accused of abuse while serving in St. Cloud diocese

Sep 25, 2018

Judge OKs $210M deal to pay Twin Cities clergy sex abuse victims

Jun 1, 2018

Twin Cities archdiocese bankruptcy settlement: The basics

Timeline: An ongoing history of the scandal

The people behind the stories

Terms, titles and canon law

Explore the documents

All Stories

Suit seeks to hold Vatican at fault for abuse by U.S. priests
May 13, 2019 —The lawsuit attempts to trace a direct line from clergy sex abuse victims to the Vatican, through Minnesota church officials.
Winona-Rochester diocese plans bankruptcy amid abuse lawsuits
Nov 19, 2018 —The Winona-Rochester Catholic diocese plans to file for bankruptcy to deal with more than 100 allegations of sexual abuse.
Deceased bishop accused of abuse while serving in St. Cloud diocese
Nov 12, 2018 —The Diocese of St. Cloud announced Monday that a deceased bishop has been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor while he was a priest in the diocese.
Judge OKs $210M deal to pay Twin Cities clergy sex abuse victims
Sep 25, 2018 —A federal judge on Tuesday backed a bankruptcy reorganization plan for the Twin Cities archdiocese that includes $210 million to compensate more than 400 victims of clergy sex abuse.

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REPORTER/PRODUCERS Sasha Aslanian, Madeleine Baran, Mike Cronin, Tom Scheck, Laura Yuen
PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer Simonson, Amanda Snyder, Jeff Thompson
COPY EDITOR Eric Ringham
WEB EDITOR Meg Martin
WEB PRODUCER Will Lager
EDITORS Mike Edgerly, Jon Gordon, Regina McCombs, Bill Wareham
PROJECT EDITOR Chris Worthington