Former Crookston Priests Identified in Sexual Assault Case

By Scott Cook
WDAZ
September 19, 2017

http://www.wdaz.com/news/4330745-former-crookston-priests-identified-sexual-assault-case

Two more priests from the Crookston Diocese have been added to a list of 21 priests and monks who attorneys say sexually assaulted minors throughout the state of Minnesota.

Casimir Plakut and Augustine John Strub, both deceased, served the Crookston Diocese during the 1940s and 1950s. But despite the fact that it was so long ago, he says it's important to raise awareness about the issue of sexual abuse in the church, to stop it from happening in the future, and to shine a spot light on what he said happened specifically at the diocese of Crookston, acc

“It's so important to get the painful truth of the past out. Both the names of the offenders, where they offended and their histories because there are so many survivors who think they are the only ones and are blaming themselves. Suffering in secrecy and silence, and by revealing what has been will protect kids in the future because there is a nuisance we believe being maintained by the Bishop in Minnesota and in the diocese of Crookston,” said attorney Jeff Anderson.

The release of these names and information is timely because tomorrow Anderson will be in Thief River Falls arguing a different issue against the diocese of Crookston.

A local man, Ron Vasek, previously came forward and said he was sexually abused in the seventies by his former priest, Roger Grundhaus.

Anderson said he plans to ask the Court to deny the Diocese of Crookston's attempts to throw out the public nuisance and negligence claims.

Anderson listed his goal as to "force the Diocese of Crookston to end their long-standing practice of concealment and protection of child sexual abusers."