MINNESOTA
News 8000
Author: Leah Linscheid, llinscheid@wkbt.com
Published On: Jun 23 2014
WINONA, Minn. (WKBT) –
In a move some are calling ‘unprecedented,’ the Catholic Diocese of Winona is releasing details of years of sexual abuse by priests in its churches.
Back in December, courts ordered the diocese to release the names of 14 priests accused of sexual abuse dating back to the 1960s. More than six months later, the diocese is now voluntarily sharing the details behind those accusations.
“We are establishing and taking back, we hope, our credibility,” said Bishop John Quinn.
The reports show most accusations stemmed from the 1970s and 80s. In one case, the report shows a Winona priest was accused 36 different times of sexually abusing a child. In a handful of cases, priests were repeatedly placed in treatment after accusations surfaced – but they returned to the diocese just months later under a different position or parish.
“In nearly all the cases, the priests who were returned to ministry after treatment were placed back into parishes based on the widespread belief that they could be rehabilated,” said Nelle Moriarty, chairperson of the Diocese of Winona Review Board. “Today as a society, we now know that rehabilitation as a sxual offender is most likely not possible.”
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