Mt. Calvary Priest Removed Amid Abuse Allegations

By Gannett Wisconsin
Sheboygan Press
February 18, 2013

http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20130219/SHE0101/302190215/Mt-Calvary-priest-removed-amid-abuse-allegations?nclick_check=1

MOUNT CALVARY — Fr. Dennis Druggan, president and rector of St. Lawrence Seminary High School in Mount Calvary, has been removed from public ministry due to an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

The allegations involve a minor in Montana more than 25 years ago, according to a statement from the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph and reported by the Fond du Lac Reporter.

Druggan, OFM Capuchin, had been on administrative leave since he was informed of the initial complaint in July. A second complainant came forward after the initial complaint, according to the statement. There have been no allegations involving his ministry at St. Lawrence Seminary High School in Mount Calvary, a village of about 800 people about 18 miles west of Plymouth.

Per provincial policy, the allegations were reported to law enforcement officials in Rosebud County, Montana. Montana law enforcement determined they could no longer proceed with a criminal investigation of these allegations. The Province retained the services of an independent investigator to conduct an internal inquiry.

The Review Board of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph met twice to review the investigator’s reports and other materials submitted by the parties.

“In light of the findings of the Review Board that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the allegations and respecting their competence and recommendations, Provincial Minister, Fr. John Celichowski, has decided that it is necessary to remove Druggan from the offices of rector and president of St. Lawrence Seminary,” the statement said.

Druggan is barred from public ministry as required under the terms of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. He will be encouraged to live a life of prayer and penance in a suitable friary, according to the statement.

“The abuse of any child is a crime and a sin,” the statement said. “We know that there have been times when children and youth entrusted to our care have been harmed, for that we are deeply sorry. While we cannot undo the harm that was done in the past, we are committed to doing what we can to prevent any future harm and to assisting those who have been hurt by a Capuchin friar. The Province will reach out to the victims in this case and provide whatever pastoral assistance we can.”