MINNESOTA
KSTP
Dave Aeikens
St. John’s Abbey says it has released the files of 18 monks believed to have sexually abused children.
The 18 files include nine monks who have died and two who have separated from St. John’s Abbey and live as laymen.
The other seven files include monks who live on the St. John’s campus under a safety plan the abbey has developed.
The abbey said in a statement it knows of no incident of sexual abuse of a minor by a monk at St. John’s in more than two decades.
The files include detailed personal information on the monks that is protected by state and federal laws, the statement said.
“The victims need to know the scope, the magnitude, the horrific nature of this abuse,” said Charles Reid, a St. Thomas professor and Catholic Church expert. “When we learn everything about these priests, it benefits everyone,” Reid said.
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