MINNESOTA
The Raw Story
By Arturo Garcia
Monday, September 23, 2013
Officials within the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, were aware that one of its priests was sexually abusing minors for years before he was convicted, Minnesota Public Radio reported.
The archdiocese allegedly became aware of Curtis Wehmeyer’s illicit activities in 2005, seven years before his 2012 conviction on charges of criminal sexual conduct, and possession of child pornography. He is currently serving a five-year prison sentence.
MPR also published a 2011 memo from then-local vicar general, Rev. Kevin McDonough, recommending against making Wehmeyer’s actions known to parish employees. McDonough’s job duties included supervising the archdiocese’s efforts to protect young parishoners from sexual abuse. He resigned in September 2013.
“Disclosure in the church-rectory-office setting is aimed at preventing a priest from misusing his position as a priest to obtain impermissible favors (sex, money, information) from those to whom he ministers,” McDonough wrote in the memo. “With Father Wehmeyer, that has never been a question.”
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