MINNESOTA
Brainerd Dispatch
By Jennifer Stockinger on Oct 31, 2015
A Brainerd Catholic church is reaching out to the community and to the survivors who were abused by clergy in hopes to help them heal.
Father Tony Wroblewski of St. Francis Catholic Church said the Brainerd church is keeping with the theme of “A Year of Mercy” as declared by Pope Francis and have created a diverse group of parishioners to reflect on how the church, the Brainerd lakes Catholic community, can integrate the Pope’s focus on the Catholic faith and to present actions taken, both within and without the Catholic church, to address the past abuse of young people by clergy.
Wroblewski said the church wants to help victims, families and the community heal. The group, named the Mercy Task Force, is studying ways the Catholic community can promote atonement, healing and where fitting, forgiveness.
Wroblewski said since the Minnesota Child Victims Act went into effect a number of lawsuits about abuse of young people by clergy have been filed. The act changed the statutes of limitations and gives child sexual abuse victims until May 25, 2016, to file civil lawsuits.
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