An Orphan Breaks His Silence: Part Two

By Barbara Reyelts
Northlands News Center
October 20, 2015

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/An-Orphan-Breaks-His-Silence-Part-Two-334895151.html

Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com) -- The Duluth Catholic Diocese is under fire from a lawsuit claiming the sexual abuse, by priests, of children from 1956 through 1974.

The Diocese has been ordered by the St. Louis County District Court to turn over all records on child sex abuse by clergy during those years.

While it may seem like it all happened long ago, experts say the tragic effects of child sexual abuse continue to plague victims throughout their lives.

“It was very traumatic for me,” Gene Saumer, who lived at St. James Orphanage.

“I couldn't deal with these feelings, I felt inadequate,” Larry Dickinson, who lived at St. James Orphanage from 1968-70, said.

Both these men claim they were abused by priests when they were children living at St. James Orphanage in Duluth.

The alleged abuse took place while the boys were under the care of the Catholic Diocese of Duluth, which ran the orphanage and oversaw the priests who provided spiritual guidance and care for the children.

“When kids are isolated like that, and they're in an institution like that, like an orphanage, often times the abuse in those places is rampant,” Clergy Abuse Attorney from St. Paul, Michael Finnegan, said.

As 76-year-old Gene Saumer faces debilitating Parkinson's disease, he says he wants to speak out now, while he still has a chance, in the hopes of encouraging others who may have been sexually abused in the orphanage to speak out.

“I think they should have been held accountable for what happened. I don't know how many other kids were abused there,” Saumer said.

Larry Dickinson has filed suit against the Diocese saying they should be held accountable in court.

“The Arch Diocese won't acknowledge anything and I want them to acknowledge what went on,” Dickinson said.

Both men say the sexual abuse they suffered as children has damaged their quality of life.

A complaint clergy abuse attorney, Mike Finnegan, says is all too common.

“Most survivors, like the gentleman you talked about, suffer in silence, secrecy and shame, blaming themselves for what happened,” Finnegan said.

Both Saumer and Dickinson battled alcoholism and depression, something clergy sex abuse victim, Verne Wagner, says is directly related to the abuse they suffered as children.

“There's a lot of personal shame that goes with this,” Wagner said.

“One of the ways that they numb the pain is they either drink the pain away or drug the pain away. Suicide is a very real thing for them,” Finnegan said.

For Gene Saumer speaking out is a first step to becoming a survivor.

“If it stops one kid from being abused I feel I've succeeded,” Saumer said.

For Larry Dickinson, filing a lawsuit is his way of moving from victim to survivor.

“It would be some vindication that either the church settles and steps up and says we're sorry like the Pope says that they should do,” Dickinson said.

For Verne Wagner, bringing clergy abuse to public consciousness is a way to force the Catholic Diocese to address the problem.

“When the Diocese first published their list of priests that had abused, credibly abused priests, there were 17. Now they're up to,” Wagner said.

And for attorney Mike Finnegan, the lawsuit against the Duluth Diocese is a way to protect children from future clergy sex abuse.

“The legal system is what can hold them accountable and make sure those secrets get out there so that kids are better protected today and into the future,” Finnegan said.

The Catholic Diocese of Duluth responded to our request for an interview with a statement from Vicar General, Father James Bissonette. Please see the related story attached to this article for the full statement.

Meanwhile, the second of three clergy abuse lawsuits against the Catholic Diocese of Duluth is scheduled for St. Louis County District court on Jan. 19.