Insurer wants to limit liability to cover clergy in abuse claims

ST. PAUL, Minn. - An insurance company has asked a court to limit or eliminate its responsibility to cover some clergy sex abuse claims against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Last month, the archdiocese sued about 20 insurers in federal court to try to clarify the amount of money the carriers would pay to settle clergy sex abuse claims.

In a court filing, the insurer CNA contends the company and its predecessors have no responsibility to pay claims related to events that were "not unexpected or unforeseen."

Minnesota Public Radio News reports the insurer said it has no record of some policies that the archdiocese claims exist. The insurer also said some coverage doesn't include sexual abuse.

An archdiocese attorney says the insurers' move was expected. CNA declined to comment.