Diocese of Saint Cloud to Host Listening Sessions on Sexual Abuse Allegations

By Jennie Lissarrague
KSTP
July 17, 2015

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3854713.shtml

The Diocese of Saint Cloud will host a series of listening sessions this summer after allegations of sexual abuse against three priests of the diocese.

Four civil lawsuits claim abuse by the Revs. Robert Smith, William Wey and James Thoennes; the Diocese of St. Cloud is named as a defendant.

The sessions will be hosted in August by Bishop Donald Kettler.

The bishop says the listening sessions will be a chance for him to acknowledge the accusations, answer questions and encourage other victims to come forward. Similar sessions were held in the past after other allegations of abuse in St. Cloud. Between 2002 and 2013, about 60 listening sessions were conducted under the leadership of Bishop John Kinney, the diocese says.

According to the diocese, Smith and Wey have been dead for more than 25 years, and Thoennes is living in St. Cloud under restrictions.

Smith, who died in July 1987, served at Holy Angels Church, St. Cloud; Holy Family Church, Belle Prairie; Our Lady of Victory Church, Fergus Falls; St. Leonard Church, Pelican Rapids; St. Paul Church, Sauk Centre; chaplain, Poor Clare Sisters, Sauk Rapids; Holy Cross Church, North Prairie; and St. Stanislaus Church, Sobieski.

Wey, who died in July 1988, served at St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud; St. Donatus Church, Brooten; Immaculate Conception Church, Sedan; St. Gall Church, Tintah; Sacred Heart Church, Dent; St. Peter Church, Dumont; and St. Patrick Church, Collis.

Thoennes served at St. Anthony Church, St. Cloud; St. Mary Church, Melrose; St. Joseph Church, Waite Park; St. John Church, Foley; St. Anne Church, Kimball; Sacred Heart Church, Dent; St. Leonard Church, Pelican Rapids; St. Joseph Church, Bertha; St. Edward Church, Henning; Chaplain, St. Mary’s Villa, Pierz.