The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Adds 17 to List of Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis released a list today of  17 additional priests accused of sexually abusing minors.    The release adds to their previous lists of 34 and 5.  Along with the list the Archbishop John Nienstedt released a statement

Today, we join law firm Jeff Anderson and Associates in jointly disclosing the names and assignment histories of 17 men who have substantiated claims against them of sexually abusing a minor while they were assigned as priests. As part of a legal settlement with Jeff Anderson and Associates announced last week, a process was established for the disclosure of additional names of priests who are the subject of substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor.

Of these 17 men whose names are disclosed today, nine are the subjects of substantiated claims of abuse of a minor within this archdiocese.

The remaining eight individuals are or were priests of other dioceses or religious orders who have substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor outside of this archdiocese. The archdiocese is not aware of any substantiated claim of sexual abuse of a minor asserted against these individuals relating to any conduct that occurred in this archdiocese. Some of these eight individuals held temporary assignments in this archdiocese. In other cases, they may have traveled to the archdiocese, or resided here without ministry faculties or lived here as a lay person.

Most of the reported incidents of abuse related to these 17 men occurred between the mid-1950s and the mid-1980s. All of these men have been permanently removed from ministry in this archdiocese; most of them have been out of ministry here for a decade or more. Ten of these 17 men are deceased, but the pain they caused is very much alive. I am profoundly saddened and sorry for the harm clergy sexual abuse has caused victims and survivors, their families and the community.

In addition, the status has changed for three men whose names were previously disclosed. Both Eugene Corica and Robert Loftus are now moved to the list of men who are subjects of substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor within this archdiocese, bringing the total number of names on that list to 55. Roger Vaughn is added to the new list of men who are the subjects of substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor outside of this archdiocese. There are a total of nine names on that list.

The List

The following names were released May 22, 2014 as a result of a comprehensive file review by an outside national firm. For more information about this disclosure, please see this release from the archdiocese.

• Edward Beutner
• Robert P. Clark
• Donald  Dummer
• Thomas Ericksen
• Ambrose Filbin
• Jerry Foley
• Ralph Goniea
• Reginald Krakovsky
• Harry Majerus
• William Marks
• Wendell Mohs
• James Nickel
• John Owens
• James Porter
• Charles Potocki
• James Vedro
• Adalbert Wolski

These names are a part of the historic settlement that does provide some hope that the Church will finally get what needs to happen.  That they need to practice zero tolerance and not just give it lip service.

My previous discussions about their growing lists:

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Adds 5 to List of Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Has an Interesting Addition to Their List

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Release 9 More Names

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Release Their List of 34 Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors (update)