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A Look
at Bishop Donald J. Kettler's Statement
By Mike Bryant
Legal Examiner
February 2, 2014
http://stcloud.legalexaminer.com/property-owners-liability-slip-fall/a-look-at-bishop-donald-j-kettlers-statement/
Along with the St
Cloud list that was released Bishop of St Cloud, Rev. Donald
J. Kettler released a statement.
The words were interesting in a number of areas:
For immediate release……………
When I became Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, in
November 2013, I immediately began connecting with people,
familiarizing myself with policies, and reviewing important
documents that I am responsible for as Bishop. Part of that
process has involved reviewing files regarding claims of sexual
abuse of minors by clergy who served in parishes within the
Diocese of Saint Cloud. I am struck by the courage and strength
of the victims of abuse who have come forward. And I am
impressed with the pastoral responses of my predecessors. So in
mid-December, I decided to release the names of those clergy.
Therefore, I asked my senior staff to make certain I had a
complete list of all the clergy who had likely abused minors. It
is my intent to continue to provide a pastoral response to such
abuse. In that spirit, I am now disclosing a list of all clergy
identified, to date, who were likely involved in the sexual
abuse of minors. I am also disclosing the parishes where each of
those clergy served within the Diocese of Saint Cloud. The list
includes Diocesan priests as well as clergy who are members of
religious communities who served in parishes in the Diocese.
Additionally on this list are the names of several men of a
religious community from outside the Diocese who served in
schools within our Diocese.
It is my hope that the release of these names will
provide validation to those victims who have been sexually
abused and have already come forward. I pray it will also give
strength to those who have remained silent and allow them to
come forward.
The following statement is a part the Sexual
Misconduct policy for the
Diocese of Saint Cloud:
If someone has sexually abused you or
exploited you, and you feel that the time is right to come
forward, there are professionals you can talk to about your
experience. They can assist you in getting the help you need.
You do not have to face or name your abuser. You don’t have to
give any information you are not comfortable disclosing. It
does not matter how long ago the abuse was. Assistance is
available to you.
Let’s look at a couple of the items:
“Part of that process has involved reviewing files
regarding claims of sexual abuse of minors by clergy who served
in parishes within the Diocese of Saint Cloud.”
What files did he look at? What is in the files?
What choices were made as the files were reviewed?
” I am struck by the courage and strength of the victims
of abuse who have come forward.”
A very true statement, but what about those who hurt the
survivors?
“And I am impressed with the pastoral responses of my
predecessors.”
Really? The list has never been disclosed. There has
been a battle with every case that has been brought.
“I am now disclosing a list of all clergy identified”
This statement has already
been questioned and will be tested.
He ends with a hope that survivors will come forward and
feel like they were heard. He claims that the intent was to
disclose the list for some time and I guess it was a coincidence
it was the day after a lawsuit was filed to get the list and was
released on a Friday afternoon.
It is a very good first step to finally see their
list. There are more lists that exist in Minnesota and there
are many more names to find.
Abuse of children and the continued silence by the
offenders needs to be prevented. If you suffered, saw, or
suspected such events, it is important to know that there is help
out there.
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