Ramsey County ends archdiocese oversight.

Byline: Kevin Featherly

Ramsey County on Tuesday formally ended civil oversight of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, which had been part of a 2015 civil settlement with the archdiocese.

In court on Tuesday, District Court Judge Teresa Warner signed off on the agreement, concluding the county's 49-month watchdog role and effectively putting the church back in charge of policing itself.

As part of that hearing, the County Attorney's Office issued a 30-page cultural assessment report detailing the agreement's impact on guiding the church toward institutional and cultural change.

Joy Hoffman, whose three sons were sexually abused by St. Paul Catholic priest Curtis Carl Wehmeyer, spoke during a press conference immediately after the court hearing. Hoffman said she feels justice has been done for her family.

"I think it has brought us a sense of hope and assurance that nothing like this will ever happen again, and that we have safety in our parish community," she said.

County Attorney John Choi, speaking directly to the Hoffmans, said that what happened to them was "unimaginable."

"It was not only Curtis Wehmeyer that hurt your family," he said to the Hoffmans, who were seated in the room. "It was the archdiocese as well. With that acknowledgment, I think we have been able to undertake some really important healing."

During the oversight period, three independent audits of the church were conducted and restorative justice and victim assistance measures taken. Judicial oversight was conducted on a rolling basis every six months and, in July 2016, Archibishop Bernard Hebda appeared in court to admit wrongdoing. Tuesday's session was the court's final judicial oversight hearing.

Hebda apologized to the Hoffmans and expressed gratitude to them for having the courage to report Wehmeyer's abuse.

"The archdiocese that I lead...