Charges of church negligence in handling of sexually abusive priests will be heard by a jury this fall.

The clergy sex abuse lawsuit against the Twin Cities archdiocese will move to a jury trial, a Ramsey County district judge ruled Monday.

“Attorneys for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona had asked the court for a summary judgment that would dismiss the case.

“But Judge John Van de North said a jury trial would proceed, now set for Sept. 22.

“‘This case needs to be tried,’ said Van de North. The alleged victim ‘deserves a day in court, at least on the negligence claims.’”

By Jean Hopfensperger, Star Tribune — Click here to read the rest of this story.