The Rev. Dennis Becker, the only one of the four still alive, served here from June 1987 to June 1998, before moving on to churches in Kandiyohi and Lake Lillian. He retired in July 2000. He was the only one of the four not previously identified by alleged victims of abuse, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

According to a press release issued by the diocese to area churches March 6, the allegations that put Becker on the list stem from his time at Winsted’s Church of the Holy Trinity in 1964 to 1965, soon after the 1962 ordination of the Lind, Minn., native.

Prior to serving at St. Anastasia, Becker served at Catholic churches in Nassau, Minn., North Mankato, Winsted, Cottonwood, where he also was the city mayor for four years, Clarkfield, DeGraff, Benson and Danvers.

A Notice of Claim is not a lawsuit, the diocese announcement said. Instead, it is a notice stating the time, place and circumstances of the alleged abuse. Under Minnesota law, the eight parishes listed as sites where the four accused priests allegedly abused minors are independent religious corporations, as is the diocese.

One of the three deceased priests, the Rev. Michael Skoblik, who was ordained in 1939 and retired in 1988, is alleged to have abused minors at two Hutchinson-area churches he served between 1952 and 1988. One was the Church of St. George, now St. Pius X in Glencoe, where he also was superintendent of the school in 1964 and 1965. The abuse allegedly took place from 1962 to 1965. He served the Glencoe church from 1952 to 1965.

Skoblik is also alleged to have abused a minor from 1964 to 1968 while he was at the Church of St. Joseph, now the Church of the Holy Family in Silver Lake. Skoblik served there until 1988. He died in 1989 at age 79.

The other two priests named were the Rev. David Roney, who allegedly abused minors at Benson, Willmar and Walnut Grove, and the Rev. John Murphy, who was listed as allegedly abusing children while at Montevideo and Redwood Falls.

The diocese’ letter followed a January court decision that ordered the New Ulm and Duluth Dioceses to turn over documents about alleged sex abuse by clergy. Until then, they had refused to disclose some information made public by other Catholic dioceses dealing with abuse lawsuits.

In the press release, the diocese said it has been diligent in efforts “to provide a safe environment program that educates clergy, diocesan and parish staff, teachers, parents, students and volunteers who work with minors, and helps them identify and prevent sexual misconduct.”

It further said it was committed to helping victims heal and to prevent “this terrible crime from occurring in the diocese.”

Anyone suffering sexual abuse by a cleric of the Diocese of New Um was encouraged to report the misconduct to their local law enforcement agency, as well as the Victim Assistance Coordinator or the Bishop’s Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct, 1421 Sixth St. N., New Ulm, or by calling 507-233-5313.

A phone call to the Diocese of New Ulm seeking contact information for Becker was not returned by the time this issue of the Leader went to press.