Fr. Marvin Klaers on List of Suspected Sexual Abusers

By Mike Dalton
Cannon Falls Beacon
February 21, 2015

http://www.cannonfalls.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=25503

Fr. Marvin Klaers, who served Catholic parishes in Hampton, Miesville and New Trier, was among 17 men named on a new list of alleged abusers released recently.

Klaers was ordained in 1950, and served as an associate pastor in New Ulm and Shakopee before coming to St. Mathias in Hampton in 1965. He spent time in St. Paul before serving St. Joseph in Miesville and St. Mary's in New Trier from 1975 until his retirement in October, 2002. He continued to serve area parishes following his retirement.

A letter distributed at St. Joseph Sunday to parishioners stated that there is an allegation of abuse from 35 to 37 years ago against Klaers, who was serving St. Mary's in New Trier at the time. However, an attorney at Jeff Anderson and Associates said there are currently two claims against Klaers, and several phone calls claiming sexual abuse of minors by Klaers have recently been received.

Anderson and Associates has filed a Notice of Claim against Klaers. A Notice of Claim has the same weight as a lawsuit but is filed in bankruptcy court. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse is seeking damages for negligence from the Archdiocese, not the local parish, for failing to supervise Fr. Klaers.

Klaers, who denies the allegations, served local parishes on a limited basis as late as last July.