The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona must release the names of 46 priests accused of sexually abusing minors, a Ramsey County district judge ruled Monday.
Judge John Van de North ordered that by Dec. 17 the church must provide not just the names of the priests but their year of birth, year of ordination, the parishes they served, their current ministerial status, current residence and whether they are alive.
The Twin Cities archdiocese has held secret the names of 33 credibly accused abusers since it compiled the list in 2004 and won a 2009 ruling allowing the list to remain private. Church officials returned to court Monday seeking permission to disclose the names, following a wave of new clergy sex abuse allegations that have led to the abrupt departures of several top leaders in the local church.
The archdiocese said Monday it welcomed the ruling and pledged to release the list Thursday on its website and in the Catholic Spirit newspaper.
"The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is grateful for the approval of Ramsey County court to release information relating to priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors in our archdiocese," the archdiocese said in a statement issued Monday night.
The Winona diocese, which had 13 priests on its list, has not offered a timeline for its release.
Jeff Anderson, a St. Paul attorney specializing in clergy sex abuse cases who has been trying to get the lists released, also welcomed Monday's ruling.
"We are greatly relieved that finally there will be disclosure so children will be protected from further harm and those who have been hurt can come forward," Anderson said.