| Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed against Minn. Priest
By Leslie Dyste
KAAL
November 7, 2013
http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S3212039.shtml?cat=10728
A lawsuit was filed Thursday on behalf of a man who said he was abused by the Rev. Jerome Kern while he was at Our Lady of Grace in Edina.
Attorneys Jeff Anderson and Mike Finnegan announced the lawsuit at a press conference Thursday in St. Paul, which names Kern and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as defendants.
The victim, who is now in his 50s, alleges he was abused when he was between the ages of 12 and 16 years old. The suit says the Archdiocese let Kern continue working with kids even after there were reports of misconduct. The earliest reports were received in 1969, and Kern remained in the ministry until 2002, according to the attorneys.
The victim was not named, but another man who claims he was also sexually abused by Kern spoke out about abuse Thursday.
"I don't want another kid hurt. I don't want anyone else abused because people aren't doing their jobs ... because people of supposed faith are doing the wrong thing," said Alan Michaud. He claims he told other members of the church about the abuse, but claims no action was taken.
Kern worked in parishes in St. Paul, Edina, Minnetonka and Forest Lake from 1966 to 2002.
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