This past week, Richfield priest, Rev. Gerald Dvorak, was removed as pastor of St. Peter’s Catholic Church , according to a statement from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He was removed because the Archdiocese concluded that there was a “credible allegation” that the Rev. Gerald Dvorak sexually abused a minor in the 1970s.
Dvorak was ordained a priest in the Twin Cities archdiocese in 1985 and has served at eight parishes, according to an assignment history released by the archdiocese. Dvorak’s current assignment — as pastor of St. Peter in Richfield — began July 1, 2011.
He previously served as canonical administrator of Blessed Trinity Catholic School from July 2011 to July 2014, pastor of St. Joseph in Hopkins from September 2002 to July 2011, pastor of St. Michael in St. Paul from June 1989 to September 2002, parochial administrator of St. Andrew in St. Paul from January 1989 to June 1989, parochial administrator of Holy Cross in Minneapolis from October 1987 to June 1989, spiritual director of the local branch of the Legion of Mary from March 1987 to June 1989, parochial administrator of Saint Cyril in Minneapolis from June 1986 to March 1987, assistant priest of Holy Cross in Minneapolis from June 1984 to June 1989, and assistant priest of the Cathedral of St. Paul from June 1979 to June 1984.
Before he was ordained, Dvorak served as a “teaching parish seminarian” at St. Matthew in St. Paul from 1978 to 1979, according to the archdiocese.
Update : The first week of September the Archdiocese reported that Rev. Gerald Dvorak will now be returned to public ministry as the pastor of the Church of Saint Peter in Richfield:
The investigation included interviews with Rev. Dvorak and with the complainant. The Archdiocesan Ministerial Review Board (MRB) reviewed this entire matter, including results of the investigation and other information relating to Rev. Dvorak’s 37 years of faithful service to this Archdiocese. The MRB concluded that the allegation is not substantiated and recommended that Rev. Dvorak should be returned to ministry. Judge Tim O’Malley, Director of the Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, also reviewed this matter and was present for all MRB deliberations. He is in agreement with the MRB’s findings and recommendation.
It is important that the message keep getting out and that those who give voice to disclosure continue to be supported and representatives of the Church truly practice a policy of zero tolerance. Secrecy and nondisclosure is what this festering scab does not need.
Abuse of children and the continued silence by the offenders needs to be prevented. If you suffered, saw, or suspected such events, it is important to know that there is help out there.
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