Diocese of Crookston Named As Defendant in New Lawsuit Alleging Abuse by St. Philip’s Priest

Bemidji Pioneer
June 21, 2013

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/content/diocese-crookston-named-defendant-new-lawsuit-alleging-abuse-st-philips-priest

[the lawsuit]

Two press conferences will be held Monday to address the lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Crookston.

Jeff Anderson, who filed suit against the diocese in 1992 on behalf of 15 victims who were abused by James Porter, a priest at St. Philip’s for one year, will detail the lawsuit at 11 a.m. at the Polk County Courthouse in Crookston, and the second at 1 p.m. outside St. Philip’s School in Bemidji.

The lawsuit alleges that Porter sexually abused a Bemidji woman now in her 50s, according to a press release from Anderson’s office.

In all, 21 Bemidji men sued Porter for abuse carried out here. In addition to those cases, Porter pleaded guilty in 1993 to molesting 28 boys in Massachusetts, and admitted to abusing more than 100 children during his 13-year career.

Allegations of abuse followed him as he was transferred to parishes in various states that included New Mexico, Texas and Massachusetts.