Statement Regarding Disclosure of Additional Names

By Anne Steffens
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
February 11, 2015

http://www.archspm.org/archspm_news/statement-regarding-disclosure-additional-names-2/

Today, we are disclosing the names and assignment histories of four men who have substantiated claims against them of sexually abusing a minor while they were assigned as priests or, in the case of one, before he was a priest. A substantiated claim is one for which sufficient evidence exists to establish reasonable grounds to believe that the alleged abuse occurred. These names are being disclosed as part of our continual review of clergy files and our ongoing relationship with Jeff Anderson and Associates, announced as part of a settlement last October.

All of the reported incidents of abuse related to these four men occurred between the mid-1950s and the mid-1980s. One of the men is deceased, and the others have been permanently removed from ministry; they have been out of ministry for a decade or more. Two of the four men are from religious orders. I am profoundly saddened by the effect clergy sexual abuse continues to have on victims/survivors, their families and the community.

You may find clergy disclosure information linked on the archdiocesan website and at SafeCatholicSPM.org. We have also published this disclosure information in the archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Spirit. In addition, we alerted pastors at parishes where these men were previously assigned, so that pastors can communicate directly with their parishioners regarding the disclosures.