Seminary Abuse Lawsuits Filed Involve Clergy Who Abused Children in Onamia

Grand Forks Herald
July 29, 2015

http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/crime-and-courts/3807297-seminary-abuse-lawsuits-filed-involve-clergy-who-abused-children

As deadlines near, civil lawsuits were filed Tuesday by two men who were sexually abused as minors by clergy at Crosier Seminary in Onamia near the southern shores of Mille Lacs Lake.

Doe 51 and Doe 56, the names given to the victims in a press release, were molested by multiple priests and brothers of the Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross ("Crosier") religious order, according to the lawsuit.

Several of the clergy named in the complaints also interacted with and sexually abused children throughout Minnesota, including at parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and the Diocese of St. Cloud, said the lawsuit.

Doe 51 was sexually abused from approximately 1979-81 by Father Gerald Funcheon, Brother Gabriel Guerrero and Brother Roman Fleischhacker, when Doe 51 was approximately 15-17 years old, said the lawsuit. Doe 56 was sexually abused in approximately 1979-80 by Funcheon, Brother Wendell Mohs and Father Roger Vaughn, when Doe 56 was approximately 14-15 years old, according to the lawsuit.

The perpetrators were assigned to Crosier Seminary at the time they abused Doe 51 and Doe 56, who attended the seminary.

"We applaud the courage of Doe 51 and Doe 56 in coming forward to seek accountability and take back power that was stolen from them as children by abusive clergy," said Jeff Anderson, attorney for Doe 51 and Doe 56. "These abusers were allowed to travel all over Minnesota and elsewhere and be with children, many of whom they abused. Today, Doe 51 and Doe 56 are helping put an end to that tragic practice."

Funcheon is accused of sexually abusing many children in several states, including Minnesota, where his assignments included St. Odilia's in Shoreview (1970-74), Cathedral High School and John XXIII Middle School in St. Cloud (1980-82), and St. Stephen's in Anoka (1985-86), in addition to Crosier Seminary (1979). Guerrero allegedly abused multiple minors at Crosier Seminary, where he worked from 1953-55, and 1958-79.

Fleischhacker was assigned to the Crosier Community of Onamia (1949-85 and 2000-13), and was involved in the Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreat program in the Diocese of St. Cloud.

Mohs' assignments included the Central Minnesota TEC program, Diocese of St. Cloud (1979-82), Epiphany school in Coon Rapids, Minn. (1980-82), in addition to Crosier Seminary (1974-80).

Mohs resided at various locations during those assignments, including in St. Paul and at St. Stephen's in Anoka.

Vaughn's assignments included the Central Minnesota TEC program, Diocese of St. Cloud (1979-84), and St. Peter's Church, St. Cloud (1980-84), in addition to Crosier Seminary (1977-80).

Mohs and Vaughn each served as vocation director at Crosier Seminary, a job in which they traveled to Minnesota communities to recruit boys to attend Crosier Seminary. Funcheon, Mohs and Vaughn are included on lists of credibly accused clergy made public by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Crosiers. Vaughn is also on a list of credibly accused clergy made public by the Diocese of St. Cloud. Guerrero is included on the Crosiers' list.

Doe 51 and Doe 56 brought their lawsuits under the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which gives child sexual abuse victims until May 25, 2016, to file civil lawsuits. But persons abused by clergy working in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, including Crosiers, have until Aug. 3, to bring claims against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in bankruptcy court.