In January of 2015, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis filed for bankruptcy protection after more than a hundred claims were made by people who said that they had been sexually abused by Catholic priests.

In an effort to pay creditors, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is planning on selling several properties, including its chancery office and three other properties, according to Chief Financial Officer Tom Mertens.

"Our plan would be that we would sell these four properties assuming that the offer price is adequate," Mertens said in an interview at the creditors' committee meeting.

According to Mertens, the archdiocese is going to ask the bankruptcy trustee for permission to sell three of its St. Paul buildings: the Msgr. Ambrose Hayden Center, the Dayton Building, and the chancery offices located on Summit Avenue. It will also ask for permission to sell a property in Northfield.

Currently, Archbishop John Nienstedt is living in the chancery, which is located across from the Cathedral of St. Paul, the largest and most infamous landmark in the Twin Cities archdiocese.

Many employees of its employees work in the chancery or the Hayden Center, however, the archdiocese is considering leasing office spaces elsewhere if the property is sold.

Combined, the Properties are Worth About $11 Million

Mertens estimates that combined, the properties could be sold for about $11 million, but he said that the archdiocese has not yet determined the exact value of the properties.

As this case with the archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis proves, any individual or organization can be plagued with financial trouble. If you are dealing with burdensome debt, you will benefit greatly by speaking with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who will protect your interests.