Media Advisory: Crookston Bishop Michael Hoeppner Sued for Coercion, Abuse Survivor to Speak Publicly Today

Jeff Anderson & Associates
May 9, 2017

https://goo.gl/6ffBDz

First Bishop in the United States
Sued for Coercion

In 2015, Minnesota Bishop Michael Hoeppner
Suppressed Report of Child Sexual Abuse  

Survivor to speak publicly for the first time today
about abuse by Fr. Roger Grundhaus,
former Vicar General of the Diocese of Crookston

Bishop Hoeppner threatened harm to survivor’s vocation and
his son’s career as a priest if he did not recant his abuse report

Vasek Summons and Complaint
Doe 19- Order to Compel Discovery Diocese of Crookston Filed 08-13-2015
Oath of Fidelity
Vasek Timeline
Grundhaus Timeline
Vasek Photo
Grundhaus Photo
Profession of Faith


(St. Paul, MN) – At a news conference on today in St. Paul, attorney Jeff Anderson, a child sexual abuse survivor, and a Minnesota priest will announce the filing of a lawsuit on behalf of the survivor naming Bishop Michael Hoeppner and the Diocese of Crookston as defendants. This is the first time in the United States a bishop has been individually sued for coercion.

“The coercion and concealment in real-time demonstrates the crisis continues unabated,” said Attorney Jeff Anderson. “This is another Catholic bishop who made a conscious choice to conceal a crime and then commit coercion to keep a secret.”

In 2010, the survivor, who was exploring whether to become a church Deacon, reported his abuse by Fr. Roger Grundhaus in approximately 1971 to Bishop Hoeppner. Hoeppner advised the survivor to tell no one of the sexual abuse. In 2015, the Diocese of Crookston was court ordered to produce all information on clergy accused of child sexual abuse. However, Fr. Grundhaus was not included in the required, court-ordered disclosure. After the court order was issued, the bishop actively suppressed the survivor’s abuse report by threatening harm to his vocation as a deacon and his son’s career as a priest in the Diocese of Crookston, and coercing the survivor into signing a document stating the sexual abuse never happened.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 11:00AM CT

WHERE: Jeff Anderson & Associates, PA
               366 Jackson St., Suite 100
              St. Paul, MN 55101