ST. PAUL — A former vicar general of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has answered questions under oath about how he handled sexual abuse allegations.

The deposition of the Rev. Kevin McDonough comes in a lawsuit filed by a man who says he was abused by the Rev. Thomas Adamson. It’s reported the attorney for the man who filed the lawsuit, Jeff Anderson, said McDonough answered most questions Wednesday, but refused to respond to inquiries about his decision not to participate in a St. Paul police investigation into clergy abuse cases.

The archdiocese said in a statement released Wednesday night that McDonough cooperated with the deposition and acknowledged the harm caused by sexual abuse is serious and grave. McDonough led the archdiocese’s child safety programs until last September.