Two Deceased Priests Added to List of Accused Winona Diocese Clerics

By Kay Fate
Post-Bulletin
April 11, 2015

http://www.postbulletin.com/news/crime/two-more-former-priests-face-accusations/article_f9541824-74e7-5308-9c4d-86e79362d803.html

The Diocese of Winona on Friday morning publicly released and added the names of two more priests to their list of accused clerics: Father Harold Mountain and Father Thomas Duane.

Neither name had been released to the public before Friday's announcement. Both are dead.

Bishop John Quinn, in a statement, acknowledges that "these accusations have been deemed to be not manifestly false or frivolous."

According to documents provided Jeff Anderson and Associates, a law firm that represents several people sexually abused by clerics in the diocese, the accusations against Mountain and Duane came following their deaths.

Mountain served the southeastern Minnesota parishes of Stewartville, Hayfield, Winona, Minnieska and Minnesota City.

The accusation came to light in 2011, but the year it occurred is redacted from church documents. The victim believes he was in second or third grade. He was sent to Mountain's office for discipline, the report says, but Mountain began to talk about sex, then pulled down the boy's pants and touched his genitals.

The accuser refers to the incident as "his altar boy tryout that he failed," because he didn't respond sexually.

Because Mountain died before the accusation of abuse was made to the Diocese of Winona, he was never able to confirm or deny the allegation.

Duane served in parishes in St. Charles, Stewartville, Hayfield, Spring Valley, LeRoy, Caledonia, Dodge Center, Kasson and Claremont.

His accuser came forward in 2002, and claims she knows of at least two other women Duane molested as adolescents, the diocese's documentation shows.

Duane, too, died before the Diocese of Winona says it became aware of the accusation of abuse.

There are now 17 clerics accused of sexual abuse who worked in the Winona Diocese.

Friday's disclosure is a result of the October 2014 settlement agreement in the civil lawsuit Doe 1 v. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona.

The agreement contained a multi-step child protection plan which included the ongoing, public release of individual names of clerics with substantiated claims of the sexual abuse of minors.

"Today's release is a step forward in transparency and making our communities safer," said Jeff Anderson, who represents several sexual abuse survivors abused by clerics who worked in the Diocese of Winona.

Quinn's statement goes on to say that the information was recently obtained by the Diocese of Winona and a complete and comprehensive review has been conducted by the Diocese of Winona of all priest files in its possession.

"The Diocese of Winona is committed to transparency and ensuring that crimes against children do not go undisclosed or unreported," it continues.

"The Diocese of Winona has implemented one of the most thorough background search and safety training protocol in the nation to ensure those entrusted in our care are safe. Our prayers remain with those who have been victimized by members of the clergy and we stand committed to providing support and healing to those who have been tragically abused by clergy."

Contact: kfate@postbulletin.com