DE PERE (WI)
WLUK - Fox 11 [Green Bay WI]
April 8, 2021
By Scott Hurley
[Photo above: Abbot Benjamin Mackin, O.Praem., who has been added to the Norbertine’s list of priests with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors.]
Two Norbertine priests have been added to the order’s list of those with substantiated claims they abused minors.
Both Arnold Schinkten and Benjamin Mackin have died. St. Norbert Abbey says Schinkten’s abuse took place in 1962 and Mackin’s abuse in the 1980s. Mackin later became abbot, but the abbey says his abuse took place earlier.
The decision to add them to the list came as a result of information brought forward to the abbey in late 2020 and early 2021. An independent review board the abbey uses recommended they be added to the list. Abbot Dane Radecki made the final decision to add them to the list after reviewing the board’s information.
Radecki also announced a second review of the abbey’s case files. It will be led by Danny Defenbaugh, a former FBI investigator. He has led other priest abuse investigations including in the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay.