"Doe 20" Amends Complaint, Alleges Archdiocese Knew Fr. Keating Was a Threat

By Megan Matthews
KSTP
September 22, 2014

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3568161.shtml

Father Michael Keating

A woman, who says she was abused by Fr. Michael Keating as a teenager, has amended her complaint. This comes after Keating announced he was resigning from the University of St. Thomas last week.

The woman, known only as “Doe 20,” says she believes Keating is stepping down under false pretenses and that he’s still a danger to young women. Her complaint now alleges the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis knew Keating was a threat and should not have kept him in good standing.

The amended complaint was filed Monday by Jeff Anderson and Associates.

“Sadly, over the years I have come to realize that the archdiocese has been more concerned with saving face than with addressing the deep wounds they have caused,” she said in a statement. “What scares me the most is the possibility of more children being abused. No child should have to live with the fear and shame that I carried for years.”

The amended complaint also names Fr. Kevin McDonough, because when the Archdiocese investigated “Doe 20’s” abuse allegations against Keating, McDonough referred to her as “delusional,” according to Attorney Jeff Anderson.

Bishop Lee Piche, Auxiliary Bishop with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, released a statement:

Father Michael Keating has been on a voluntary leave of absence from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis since October 2013, which means he is not exercising any priestly ministry. His leave of absence came after he was named in a lawsuit regarding claims that he had sexually abused a minor before he was a priest. Our investigation into the claim is ongoing and is independent of the investigation at University of Saint Thomas. I ask for prayers for all those affected. I am deeply sorry for the wounds caused to victims and survivors, their families and their friends by clergy sexual abuse.