Archdiocese Reinstates Richfield Priest, Removes Former St. Paul Priest

By Jaime DeLage
Pioneer Press
September 2, 2015

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28747761/archdiocese-reinstates-richfield-priest-removes-former-st-paul

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced Wednesday it is removing a former St. Paul priest from active ministry because of an allegation of sexual abuse.

At the same time it is returning a recently accused priest to ministry in Richfield.

Both decisions were made after investigations by the archdiocese's newly formed Ministerial Review Board, a confidential body that advises the archbishop on matters involving accused priests.

The priest being reinstated is the Rev. Gerald Dvorak, pastor of the Church of St. Peter in Richfield.

Dvorak was accused in May of sexually abusing a minor in the 1970s. The review board interviewed Dvorak and the complainant and concluded the allegation was not substantiated, according to a statement from Archbishop Bernard Hebda.

Local law enforcement was notified both before and after the archdiocese review.

The priest being removed is the Rev. Joseph Gallatin, who served as assistant priest at St. Bernard Catholic Church in St. Paul's North End from September 1998 to July 2003. He also served at St. Hubert in Chanhassen (1997-98), St. Mary in Delano (2003-08), St. Boniface in St. Bonifacius (2003-08) and most recently at St. Peter in Mendota (2008-14).

Gallatin was accused of inappropriate physical contact with a minor in 1998. The allegation was reviewed that year and again in 2002 and 2014, according to the archdiocese announcement. Although the review boards did not find sufficient evidence to accuse him of sexual abuse, the 2014 board recommended that Gallatin's ministry be restricted and he was assigned to duties in the archdiocese offices.

Since then, people involved in the 1998 incident have provided additional information, according to the archdiocese, and the Ministerial Review Board determined there was evidence of sexual abuse. The board recommended the case be referred to the Vatican to be judged under canon law.

While his case is being considered in Rome, Gallatin is prohibited from priestly ministry and is not permitted to wear the collar.

"Imposing these precautionary measures reflects the seriousness of the allegation, but should not be viewed as a presumption of guilt," Hebda said. "Rev. Gallatin has denied that he has sexually abused a minor and is accorded the presumption of innocence during this time."