Identity of ex-Wisconsin priest accused of child sex abuse released

WHBL
July 8, 2015

http://whbl.com/news/articles/2015/jul/08/identity-of-ex-wisconsin-priest-accused-of-child-sex-abuse-released/

DULUTH, MN (WTAQ) - A former Wisconsin priest accused of child sexual abuse had his name released for the first time Tuesday.

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a Catholic missionary order, announced the names of Michael Charland and 6 other former priests in a lawsuit settlement with an abuse victim.

Charland once led a program in Superior called "Teens Encounter Christ." He and 4 of the other priests worked in the Diocese of Duluth Minnesota at one time.

An attorney for the diocese tells the Duluth News-Tribune it has no record of alleged sexual abuse to minors by any of the 5 priests except for James Fitzgerald, the subject of the victim's lawsuit.

Victims' attorney Jeff Anderson said the settlement also requires each priests' file to be released -- and that hasn't been done yet.