In October of 2013, MPR News Reporters began an investigation into Clergy sex abuse in the Twin Cities Archdiocese. MPR's reporting on the subject extends decades back in time and these stories helped inform the current investigation.
April 24, 2002 - Catholic cardinals meet with the Pope; Midday
April 26, 2002 - Archbishops of the dioceses of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota talked about their thoughts about sexual abuse conducted by Catholic priests.
May 8, 2002 - New information is passing between St. John's Abbey and the Stearns County Sheriff about monks accused of sexual abuse. Officials at the abbey say the information was never restricted. But recent interest in cases of sex abuse by clergy led the abbot at St. John's to begin talking more openly about monks who have been accused of sexual misconduct. He revealed that a former abbot, still living in the monastery, had abused two monks in the 1970s. Twelve other monks and priests continue to have their activities restricted in some way because of sexually-related allegations. The sheriff says for now he's simply double-checking facts and supplementing his criminal files with any information he can get from St. John's abbey. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports from Collegeville.
May 8, 2002 - THE STEARNS COUNTY SHERIFF HAS ASKED THE ABBOTT AT ST. JOHN'S ABBEY IN COLLEGEVILLE TO DISCLOSE THE WHEREABOUTS OF 13 PRIESTS AND MONKS, BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1970 TO 1990...THE CLERGY MEMBERS IN QUESTION ARE ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. MEANWHILE, THE TWIN CITIES ARCHDIOCESE IS INVESTIGATING SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE RETIRED BISHOP OF SIOUX FALLS. THE REVEREND PAUL DUDLEY IS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY MOLESTING A BOY WHILE DUDLEY WAS A PRIEST AT ANNUNCIATION PARISH IN MINNEAPOLIS.
May 22, 2002 - The St. Cloud Diocese held the first in a series of meetings regarding clergy sexual abuse last night. The meetings are designed to give Catholics a place to discuss their concerns about recent sexual abuse allegations in the church, and allow victims to speak up or consult with victims advocates. Last night's meeting was held in Wadena; other sessions will take place in Alexandria, St. Cloud, and Princeton over the next few weeks. The meetings come just shortly after Bishop John Kinney ordered a revision of the diocese's 1991 sexual abuse policy. Steve Gottwalt is a spokesman for the diocese, and was at the meeting last night. He joins us now.
July 11, 2002 - Catholics around the country learned new things about their communities when clergy sex abuse cases received fresh attention this spring. One small parish in central Minnesota discovered three of its former clergy had records of sexual abuse. All three had come to them from nearby St. John's Abbey. Today the men live at the abbey. They are stripped of their priestly duties and restricted in their daily routines. No new victims of sexual abuse have come forward in St. Joseph. But the case raises new questions about the safety of parish children during those years. From St. Joseph, Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
August 14, 2002 - Catholic bishops in Minnesota and around the nation are observing a day of atonement today for what they've called their "omissions and sins" in the church's sexual abuse crisis. The bishops also ask prayers for guidance as they embark on a new sexual-abuse policy they approved in June. Richard Pates, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, says church officials hope people who have been abused and others in the church can eventually forgive clergy who did wrong.
October 1, 2002 - Officials with St. John's Abbey have settled a dozen cases of clergy abuse. The cases from the 1960's, 70's and 80's all involve monks from St Johns. The victims will receive a payment from the Abbey, although the amount isn't being made public. Both sides say the most important part of the settlement is the formation an independent board of review. The board will be appointed by victims and will investigate accusations of abuse. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has more in this story. The leader of St. John's Abbey, Abbot John Klassen, publicly apologized to those abused by monks at St. John's.
July 2, 2003 - In the wake of the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic church, diocese across the country have set up policy review boards. Two boards in central Minnesota are beginning their work, one at St. John's Abbey and the other at the St. Cloud Diocese. Their purpose is to monitor the church's policies and response to sexual abuse. Church officials say the boards have been thoughtfully developed. They say many have a mix of non-Catholic as well as Catholic members, abuse victims and law enforcement officials. But victims' rights groups are less optimistic. They doubt the review boards will have the power to make any real change in church policy. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has more in this report.
August 5, 2003 - Investigators from the Episcopal Church USA today cleared an openly gay priest from allegations of sexual improprieties. Yesterday at the church's meeting in Minneapolis, eleventh hour allegations of inappropriate touching against Eugene Robinson threatened to derail approval of his election as bishop of New Hampshire. On Sunday, the church's house of Deputies voted to approve his election. Now that Robinson has been cleared, the House of Bishops is debating whether to give final consent. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms is at the Convention Center and is on the line with us now. Why have church investigators cleared Robinson? -man says Robinson touched him -found that touching involved back and arm -man not filing formal charge of harassment