According to a parishioner at the church where Father Mel Taylor was supposed land on September 1, 2012, the “alleged” perpetrating monk is back in Ireland…. tending to an ailing family member.

More about Mel Taylor… here.

Father Dan Ward, OSB and Father Mel Taylor OSB, both priests/monks from Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota (USA) are under investigation following claims of sexual and other misconduct. The investigations were commissioned with the knowledge of Abbot John Klassen and Bishop John Kinney from the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

10/10 Update: Letter to Canon Law Society of America

10/12 Update: Fox 9 News Report

For years, Father Dan Ward has been one of the American-Cassinese Congregation’s top legal strategist. He does the same for religious around the world in his role as executive director at the RCRI [ More ].

At least five men and one woman allege misconduct by Father Dan Ward, including this one and this one and this one and this one.

Just days after the Father Dan Ward investigation began in October, Father Ward was scheduled to speak at a Canon Law Society of America (CLSA) conference in Chicago, Illinois.

See webmaster’s letter to the CLSA… here.

At least two men allege misconduct by Father Mel Taylor including this one and this one.

Just days after the Father Mel Taylor investigation began in August, Father Taylor fled to Ireland.

If you have information regarding misconduct of either of these men, please contact the webmaster for the investigator’s contact information.

Abbot John Klassen may also be willing to provide that information. Keep in mind, however, that Abbot Klassen has covered up misconduct in the past. [ More ]

Brother Aelred Senna, spokesperson for St. John’s Abbey, confirmed the investigations into [Father Mel Taylor and Father Dan Ward]. He wrote in an e-mail to the FOX 9 Investigators, “I am able to say that Saint John’s Abbey is cooperating fully with authorities in these investigations. In light of that fact, and out of respect for all concerned, it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment. The Saint John’s community continues to pray for the healing and well-being of all victims of sexual abuse and misconduct.”

Allegations of sexual misconduct bring two monks under investigation

(Fox 9) COLLEGEVILLE, Minn - Two monks from St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota are under investigation for sexual misconduct allegations that date back decades.

At this point the investigation to look into the two monks, Father Mel Taylor and Father Dan Ward, is being conducted by an attorney hired by the Abbey, not law enforcement.

The two have been with associated with the Abbey since the 1960s.

In June, the St. Cloud Diocese announced Father Taylor would return from the Bahamas, where he had spent the previous 20 years, to take over as priest of St. John the Baptist Church in Collegeville.

That is when one allegation involving a St. John’s student from the early 1980s, and another from his time in the Bahamas involving another monk, surfaced.

“We became aware of them shortly after we had published the appointment of Father Mel Taylor in our diocesan paper,” said St. Cloud Diocese Vicar General Father Robert Rolofus. “Within a few days after that we learned of the alleged allegations and at that point we made the decision to put the appointment on hold until the internal investigation that St. John’s was going to do would be completed.”

It was only days before the St. Cloud Diocese learned of the allegations that Father Taylor was confronted by the former monk who brought the accusations against him, during his last mass in the Bahamas. Father Taylor left the next day, and is believed to be in Ireland.

The allegations against Father Ward come from five men and two women, dating back to the 1970s, all occurring at St. John’s, and include unwelcome advances, kissing, even threats of failing them in classes.

These allegations came to light through “Behind the Pine Curtain,” a web site run by a former St. John’s student, Patrick Marker, who himself brought allegations against the Abbey in 1991.

Brother Aelred Senna, spokesperson for St. John’s Abbey, confirmed the investigations into both monks. He wrote in an e-mail to the FOX 9 Investigators, “I am able to say that Saint John’s Abbey is cooperating fully with authorities in these investigations. In light of that fact, and out of respect for all concerned, it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment. The Saint John’s community continues to pray for the healing and well-being of all victims of sexual abuse and misconduct.”

Source: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/19809508/alleged-sexual

Posted: Oct 12, 2012 5:51 PM PDT
Updated: Mar 06, 2013 12:10 PM PST

See Full Story… Here

The following changes were made to the list today:

Modifications:

Fr. Dan Ward
Fr. Mel Taylor

Additions:

Fr. Jure Kristo (Offending Visting Faculty)
Matthew Feeney (Offending Lay Employee)
Fr. J.P. Earls (Participated in Coverup)
Mr. John Gagliardi (Participated in Coverup)
Mr. Pat Haws (Participated in Coverup)

View “The List”… Here

Saint John’s Abbey has quietly admitted, via a revamped web site, that at least 23 members of its community have been credibly accused of sexual abuse or misconduct.

According to the abbey’s web site [ Click Here, then select "John Jay Report"]:

“rigorous investigations deemed that allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct* against 23 members of the Abbey were credible.”

Interestingly, on the web page (formerly entitled “transparency.html”) the abbey fails to provide the names of the 23 monk offenders.

The abbey web site no longer provides a copy of the letter that it claims was sent to Saint John’s alum in April of 2011.  As part of the April, 2011 settlement, that letter was to be posted on the abbey’s website [ View ].

That April, 2011 letter from Abbot John Klassen [ View ] provided the names of eighteen credibly accused monk offenders:

Brother Andre Bennett
Brother Isaac Connolly
Father Richard Eckroth
Father Thomas Gillespie
Brother John Kelly
Father Brennan Maiers
Father Dunstan Moorse
Father Francisco Schulte
Father Bruce Wollmering
Father Michael Bik
Father Cosmas Dahlheimer
Abbot John Eidenschink
Father Fran Hoefgen
Brother Steven Lilly
Father Finian McDonald
Brother Jim Phillips
Father Allen Tarlton
Father James Kelly

Which of the following credibly accused monks [ View ] make up the other five on the abbey’s new list of twenty-three?

Father Tom Andert
Father Daniel Ward
Father Mel Taylor
Brother Robert Burke
Father Howard Oak Mossier
Father Agustine Cerezo Murillo
Father Peregrin Berres
Father Robert Blumeyer
Father Mathias Faue
Father Othmar Hohmann
Abbot Timothy Kelly
Brother Paschal Brisson
Father Dominic Keller
Father Timothy Backous
Father Jonathan Licari

The list of religious offenders produced today by the Diocese of Saint Cloud includes thirty-three names. The list includes the names of religious who offended within the diocese. It also includes the names of religious who worked within the diocese but offended elsewhere.

Compare all of the public lists… Here

At least one name is missing:

Rev. Angelo Zankl, OSB  Rev. Angelo Zankl was recently named as a perpetrator by the Diocese of Duluth [ View ]. Zankl was assistant pastor in St. Joseph, Minnesota from 1940-1943. Rev. Killian Heid was lead priest at the time.

Several others should be considered for inclusion, including:

Rev. Jonathan Licari, OSB According to an October 22, 2013 email from Abbot John Klassen, “Fr. Jonathan voluntarily submitted to an evaluation by a qualified, highly-regarded therapist. This evaluation was thorough and covered all relevant issues.” The “evaluation” came after Fr. Jonathan Licari’s removal from the External Review Board in September of 2003, following an allegation of misconduct involving a minor. Rev. Licari served in Albany (MN) and is currently the headmaster at Saint John’s Prep School.

Rev. Mel Taylor, OSB An investigation into sexual misconduct by Rev. Mel Taylor began in October of 2012 [ View ]. In January of 2013, the abbey’s investigator claimed (following a phone conversation with Taylor’s victim) that the victim’s account was credible. Rev. Taylor served in Cold Spring, MN.

Rev. Dan Ward, OSB An investigation into sexual misconduct by Rev. Dan Ward began in October of 2012 [ View ]. In January of 2013, the abbey’s investigator claimed (following a phone conversation with three of Ward’s victims) that the victims’ accounts were credible. Rev. Dan Ward served in the Diocese of Saint Cloud in 1996 [ View ].

Others credibly accused… Here

Since the 1930s, fifty (50) monks and ten (10) other members of the Saint John’s community have been accused of sexual abuse and/or other misconduct. Another twenty (20) men with strong ties to St. John’s have also been accused of misconduct.

*** Type 1: Saint John’s Abbey Monks Accused of Sexual Abuse or Misconduct (50)

1. Fr. Michael Bik (Reportedly Still at Abbey)
2. Br. Isaac Connolly  (Reportedly Still at Abbey)
3. Fr. Richard Eckroth (Reportedly Still at Abbey)
4. Fr. Thomas Gillespie (Reportedly Still at Abbey) (SJP ’55) (SOT ’64)
5. Fr. Brennan Maiers (Reportedly Still at Abbey)
6. Fr. Finian McDonald (Reportedly Still at Abbey)
7. Fr. Dunstan Moorse (Reportedly Still at Abbey)
8. Fr. Francisco Schulte (Reportedly Still at Abbey)
9. Fr. Allen Tarlton (Reportedly Still at Abbey) (SJP ’46)
10. Br. Jim Phillips (Reportedly Still at Abbey)

11. Fr. Tom Andert (Still at Abbey, Prior of Saint John’s Abbey) (SJP ’65)
12. Fr. Tim “Timo” Backous (Fmr. Headmaster of Saint John’s Prep)
13. Fr. Donald Tauscher (Reportedly Still at Abbey)
14. Fr. Jonathan Licari (Headmaster, Removed from Review Board in 2003)

15. Fr. Daniel Ward (Allegations Deemed Credible 1/2013)
16. Fr. Mel Taylor  (Allegations Deemed Credible 1/2013)

17. Fr. Chrysostom Kim (Active, Abbey)
18. Fr. Simeon Thole (Active, Abbey)
19. Fr. Thomas Thole (Active, Abbey)
20. Fr. Cyril Gorman (Active, Japan)
21. Fr. Anthony Ruff (Active, Abbey, SOT Faculty)

22. Fr. Jerome Tupa (Active, Abbey & St. Joseph)

23. Fr. Fran Hoefgen (Left Monastery, Cities)
24. Br. John Kelly (Left Monastery, Cities)
25. Br. Robert Burke (Left Monastery, Worked for Archdiocese, Deceased)
26. Br. Stephen Lilly (Left Monastery, Cities)
27. Fr. Howard Oaks Mossier (Left Monastery, Alabama)
28. Fr. Nathan Libaire (Left Monastery, Santa Fe)

29. Fr. James Kelly (Left Monastery, Deceased)
30. Fr. Agustine Cerezo Murillo (Left Monastery, Deceased)

31. Br. Andre Bennett (Deceased)
32. Fr. Cosmas Dahlheimer (Deceased)
33. Fr. Bruce Wollmering (Deceased)
34. Fr. Peregrin Berres (Deceased)
35. Fr. Robert Blumeyer (Deceased)
36. Abbot John Eidenschink (Deceased)
37. Fr. Mathias Faue (Deceased)
38. Fr. Othmar Hohmann (Deceased)
39. Abbot Timothy Kelly (Deceased)
40. Br. Paschal Brisson (Deceased)
41. Fr. Dominic Keller (Deceased)
42. Fr. Alban Fruth (Deceased)
43. Fr. Aelred Tegels (Deceased)
44. Fr. Angelo Zankl (Deceased)
45. Br. Zaccheus Zuehlke (Deceased)
46. Fr. Pirmin Wendt (Deceased)
47. Fr. Aloysius Michels (Deceased)
48. Fr. Roger Botz (Deceased)
49. Fr. Gerald Farrell (Deceased)
50. Fr. Gregory Soukup (Deceased)

*** Type 2: Lay Personnel Accused of Sexual Abuse or Misconduct (5)

1. Terry DeSutter (Alive, 2002 Settlement)
2. Steve Pavkovich (Alive, Banned from Campus)
3. Roger Julkowski (Deceased, “The Farm”)
4. Matthew Feeney (Alive, Prison)
5. Miguel Diaz (Alive, SOT Faculty)

*** Type 3: Visiting Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse or Misconduct (5)

1. Fr. Paul GoPaul (Deceased)
2. Fr. Anthony Smithwick (Alive, England?)
3. Fr. Bede Parry  (Deceased)
4. Fr. Michael Brunovsky (Alive, Ohio)
5. Fr. Jure Christie  (Deceased)

*** Type 4:  Priests Named by MN Dioceses with St. John’s Ties. (20)

Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis (3)

1. Rev. Gilbert DeSutter (SJU ’50)
2. Rev. Alfred Longley (CSB/SJU Retreat Master)
3. Rev. Gil Gustafson (ISTI Board)

Diocese of St. Cloud (14)

1. Rev. Sylvester Gall (SJU ’34) (SOT ’38)
2. Rev. William Garding (SOT ’82)
3. Rev. Raymond C. Jacques (SOT ’48)
4. Rev. Val Klimek (SJU ’40)
5. Rev. Joseph Kremer (SJU ’63) (Staff, SJU Staff 1976-1984)
6. Rev. Richard Kujawa (SJU SOT ’50)
7. Rev. James Mohm (SJU SOT ’27)
8. Rev. Donald Rieder (SJU ’51)
9. Rev. Peter Snyers St. John’s (SJU SOT ’53)
10. Rev. Allan Speiser (SJU ’45)
11. Rev. James Thoennes (SJU ’60)
12. Rev. William Wey (SJU ’42)
13. Deacon Michael Weber (SJU ’66)
14. Msgr. Vincent Yzermans (Volunteer, Speaker, Contributor)

Diocese of Duluth (2)

1. Rev. Leonard Colston  (SOT 1979)
2. Rev. (Thomas) Gregory Manning (SJU ’40)(SOT ’44)

Diocese of Winona (1)

1. Louis G. Cook (SJU ’54) (SOT ’58)

Diocese of Crookston (Not Available)

Diocese of New Ulm (Not Available)

Note: To find more information about members of the Saint John’s Abbey community, please visit the Meet the Monks section.

Posted on June 16, 2011
Updated January 3, 2014
Updated January 4, 2014
Updated January 6, 2014
Updated April 9, 2014
Updated May 19, 2014

On Monday, I learned that Michelle Soldo, an attorney from St. Paul, Minnesota, is conducting an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Father Timothy Backous.

After viewing a draft of this post earlier today Ms. Soldo wrote, in part, that she is “an experienced and independent fact-finder with no vested interest in the outcome of any investigation I conduct.” While that may be, Ms. Soldo’s findings are reportedly provided only to those associated with Saint John’s Abbey. This is not a recipe for truth and transparency.

In her email, Ms. Soldo also requested that I present any information I have to corroborate the allegations against Father Backous and suggested that by writing this post, I was interfering in an “independent fact-finding investigation.”

The trouble is… we’ve been here before.

I presented information to Ms. Soldo two years ago regarding Fathers Mel Taylor and Dan Ward.  I even suggested then that persons with knowledge of misconduct contact the abbot or me for Soldo’s contact information.   [ View ]

The effort failed miserably. Victims were misled. Perpetrators were NOT held accountable. My faith in the Abbey’s investigative process has yet to be restored.

Background

In approximately October of 2012, I was connected with Ms. Soldo, who had been contracted by St. John’s Abbey and/or its attorneys to investigate claims of sexual misconduct by Father Dan Ward and Father Mel Taylor. In 2011 and 2012, five victims provided statements to me regarding sexual misconduct by these priests. I arranged for four of them to speak with Ms. Soldo, based on an email from an attorney from Saint John’s who wrote:

Since you have acted to facilitate this investigation, we are prepared to share with you a summary of the information the alleged victim(s) provide(s).

Despite repeated requests, no such summary was ever provided to me.

Finally, in late January of 2013, I met with Ms. Soldo [ Web Site ] in her St. Paul office.  She shared that she found all four of the victims she interviewed to be credible. Despite her findings, Father Mel Taylor and Father Dan Ward have yet to be held fully accountable for their misconduct.

Backous

After hearing that Ms. Soldo is now investigation the Father Timothy Backous matter, and that my name had been used in at least one these discussions, I wrote an email to Ms. Soldo on Monday.

Regarding our January 25, 2013 meeting:

I was relieved when you shared that you found all four victim accounts to be credible. I believe that we commented on the fact that the victims simply wanted the truth revealed. One of us [may] have used the word “refreshing.” I believed, based on our conversation, that the truth would be shared and that these men would be held accountable. The trust that I, and especially these victims, placed in you was violated.

Regarding the use of my name:

Please make no mistake. I do not support you, your efforts, or have any confidence that what you are doing is a step toward the truth – or in any manner an effort to support the victims of sexual abuse. 

The Archdiocese

In a July 15, 2014 story posted at MPR.org [ View ] Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis whistleblower Jennifer Haselberger claimed the Archdiocese oversaw faulty private investigations of abuse claims. “The way in which the Archdiocese sought information from potential complainants was one factor that led me to the opinion, which I shared on several occasions with Chancery leadership, that when the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis ‘investigated’ something, it was always done in such a way as to ensure that we concluded the investigation with less clarity than we began with,” she said.

Is the abbey any different?

Next

One former choir member told me that he recently told an investigator, who he identified as Soldo: “that I remember that [victim] left quite abruptly and that we knew that it was because of inappropriate behavior from Fr Tim.”

What will the investigator’s report to the Abbey say about Father Backous – and what will the Abbey do with the information?

As demonstrated in the Ward/Taylor matters, the information will likely be processed by  Abbot John Klassen, the Abbey’s PR machine  and its damage control department.

In other words, little or nothing.

I urge caution.

Patrick J Marker
July 16, 2014

Bishop Kettler,

In 2011, one of Father Tom Andert’s victims referred to the “horrible culture of hypocrisy” at Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville. During several conversations, including his visit to Minnesota after Andert’s appointment in 2007, I heard his pain. Last month, that victim committed suicide.

I believe that Wednesday’s Catholic School’s Week event at Saint John’s Abbey feeds into that horrible culture of hypocrisy.

I challenge you to immediately ask Abbot John Klassen about the allegations made against not only Tom Andert, but each man on the attached PDF list. Then ask the abbot which of those allegations he has chosen to not make public. In the past, the abbot has shared that 25 members have been credibly accused. Due to limited space, the attached list shows the faces of only fourteen.

Please also ask Abbot Klassen how [he] is able to continue to rationalize the appointment of Father Tom Andert as prior, given Father Andert’s known offenses.

That anyone would knowingly lead 2200 children into an environment where sexual abuse of children remains covered up is morally reprehensible.

If you are not willing to cancel Wednesday’s event, I respectfully request that you make the attachment available to the 2200 students, their parents and all chaperones who will be visiting Collegeville. Each man listed has been credibly accused of sexual misconduct. In every case, the alleged misconduct involved a minor or vulnerable student.

Please confirm by Tuesday at noon whether the event will be cancelled, the flyer will be distributed or you intend to put members of your flock at risk.

I look forward to your response and will be available should you have any questions.

Patrick J Marker

ATTACHMENT [ View ]

Color Photos and Names for:

Father Tom Andert
Father Dunstan Moorse
Father Francisco Schulte
Father Finian McDonald
Father Allen Tarlton
Father Michael Bik
Father Isaac Connolly
Father Tom Gillespie
Father Brennan Maiers
Brother Jim Phillips
Father Mel Taylor
Father Timothy Backous
Father Dan Ward
Father Chrysostom Kim

According to the Diocese of St. Cloud web site [ View ] , “Bishop Donald Kettler will hold a series of listening sessions in August following allegations of sexual abuse committed by three priests of the diocese.”

“The Diocese of St. Cloud was recently notified of four civil lawsuits alleging abuse by Father Robert Smith, Father William Wey and Father James Thoennes. The suits name the Diocese of St. Cloud as a defendant.”

Kettler has yet to hold any listening sessions regarding abuse by members of Saint John’s Abbey who (according to Kettler on 1/13/2014 [PDF] ) were assigned to parishes in the Saint Cloud Diocese:

Blumeyer, Robert
Dahlheimer, Cosmas
Eckroth, Richard
Gillespie, Thomas
Hoefgen, Francis
Hohmann, Othmar
Maiers, Brennan
Schulte, Francisco

Nor has Kettler held a listening session regarding these two Saint John’s Abbey priests who served in at least one Diocese of St. Cloud parish, and have been investigated [ View ] for sexual misconduct:

Taylor, Mel
Ward, Dan

Listening Sessions:

• Wednesday, Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua Church, St. Cloud

• Wednesday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m., St. John Church, Foley

• Sunday, Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m., Mary Center, Cathedral of St. Mary, St. Cloud

• Sunday, Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m., Mary Center, Cathedral of St. Mary, St. Cloud

• Wednesday, Aug. 12, 6:30 p.m., Our Lady of the Angels, Sauk Centre

• Wednesday, Aug. 12, 8 p.m., St. Donatus Church, Brooten

• Thursday, Aug. 13, 7 p.m., Ave Maria Church, Wheaton

• Tuesday, Aug. 18, 6:30 p.m., St. Leonard Church, Pelican Rapids

• Tuesday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, Dent

• Thursday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m., St. Stanislaus, Sobieski

Note:

Rev. James Thoennes is a 1960 graduate of SJU
Rev. William Wey is a 1942 graduate of SJU

On Wednesday, six brave staff members at the Saint John’s Preparatory School took a stand. The six:

Jennifer Whitehead – Guidance/Counseling
Sally Battig – Executive Administrative Assistant to the Headmaster
Jeffrey R Engholm – Music Teacher
Sandra L. Ernst – Student Accounts and Records
Mary Jo Leighton – Associate Director of Admissions/United States
Jeremy Meyer – Associate Director of Admissions/International Recruitment

Did they speak out against the ridiculous press release sent out last week? No

Did they take a stand against the history of sexual abuse at the Prep School? No

Are they supporting the family of the victim who committed suicide last year? No

Did they speak out in support of the dozens and dozens of other victims? No

Did they demand the results of the Father Ward & Taylor investigations? No

The results of the (former headmaster) Father “Timo” Backous investigation? No

Did they demand that Father Tom Andert be removed as prior? No

Did they question why Father Licari is still headmaster? No

In a series of emails (below), these six staff members asked that their names be removed from this web site.

Their names were listed in an article that was posted on this web site last week [ View ] regarding a press release touting the school’s high-ranking teachers. The press release claimed the teachers were ranked as part of a “comprehensive assessment.” That was not the case.

Included in the post was a comment that the teachers at Saint John’s Preparatory School were “undoubtedly committed, engaged and interested in the well being of their students.”

Despite the positive comments, one teacher wrote:

“I am writing to request that you remove my name from your website found under the page entitled, “Questionable Data Used as Basis for Prep School Press Release.” Given that your website is focused on allegations of sexual abuse of minors, I do not wish to be associated with this website.”

Four of the six emails included a variation of this message, all of which included these words:

I do not wish to be associated… 

I do not blame these six staff members from wanting to distance themselves from the topic of sexual abuse. However, the job they accepted came with that association.

These six staff members are associated with – and connected to – an institution that has a long history of not only the sexual abuse of minors (as their emails suggest) but of sexual misconduct with vulnerable adults, mistreatment of women, along with multiple, substantiated allegations of staff members changing grades for favors, student suicide attempts, and teachers providing alcohol to minors.

These six staff members are associated with – and connected to – an institution whose leadership has failed to release the names of all known offenders and continues to put money, public perception and enrollment above disclosure, transparency and healing.

Do these six staff members believe the abuse, misconduct and harassment ended “decades ago” as the leadership would have them believe? Is the administration focused on healing?

In 2006, the community’s leader, Abbot John Klassen, wrote of one of his monks:

“If the harassment charge against Bruce Wollmering becomes public, it will be perfect fuel for this faculty member to work full force against Bruce and ultimately against the monastic community. It will be difficult for me to lead in this environment.”  – February 17, 2006 Memo from John Klassen

Pressed to make the names of three monks public in 2006, the Abbot refused:

“The Abbot reported that there were many hurdles regarding this issue, including a capital campaign, recruitment issues and access to the database.” – April 21, 2006

Money…
Enrollment…
Public Perception…

The results of publicly announced investigations into allegations of abuse and/or misconduct by three Saint John’s Abbey monks Fathers Dan Ward, Mel Taylor and Timothy Backous have yet to be made public. All three of these men were Prep School Employees.

Do these three credibly accused priests have access to minors and vulnerable adults?

Do these six staff members care?

Disclosure, transparency and healing cannot even begin with this type of secrecy.

These six staff members should take their stand with the institution, not this web site.

I welcome another email from six staff members which calls for us to work together to end the decades of secrecy, work with victims and restore what’s left of a tarnished Prep School legacy.

Patrick J Marker
Webmaster/Advocate

Their written requests:

“I am a member of the staff at Saint John’s Prep School. It has come to my attention that you have listed my name on your website, behindthepinecurtain.com. I am writing to request that you remove my name from your website found under the page entitled, “Questionable Data Used as Basis for Prep School Press Release.” Given that your website is focused on allegations of sexual abuse of minors, I do not wish to be associated with this website. Please remove my name.”   – Sally Battig

“I am a member of the faculty at Saint John’s Prep School.  It has come to my attention that you have listed my name on your website, behindthepinecurtain.com.  I am writing to request that you remove my name from your website found under the page entitled, “Questionable Data Used as Basis for Prep School Press Release.” Given that your website is focused on allegations of sexual abuse of minors, as an educator, I do not wish to be associated with this website, or any of your activities, publications, or press releases.  Please remove my name immediately.” – Jeffrey R Engholm

“I am a member of the faculty at Saint John’s Prep School. It has come to my attention that you have listed my name on your website, behindthepinecurtain.com. I am writing to request that you remove my name from your website found under the page entitled, “Questionable Data Used as Basis for Prep School Press Release.” Given that your website is focused on allegations of sexual abuse of minors, as an educator, I do not wish to be associated with this website. Please remove my name.”   – Jennifer Whitehead

“Please remove my name from your website. Behindthepinecurtain”  – Mary Jo Leighton

“I am a member of the staff at Saint John’s Prep School.  It has come to my attention that you have listed my name on your website, behindthepinecurtain.com.  I am writing to request that you remove my name from your website found under the page entitled, “Questionable Data Used as Basis for Prep School Press Release.” Given that your website is focused on allegations of sexual abuse of minors, as an staff person, I do not wish to be associated with this website.  Please remove my name immediately.” – Sandra L. Ernst

“It was brought to my attention that my name and title are listed on your website, www.behindthepinecurtain.com.  I am asking that my name be removed from your website.” – Jeremy Meyer

Posted: 10:11am on August 6, 2015
Edited: 15:16pm on August 6, 2015

An investigation into misconduct by Father Tom Andert is reportedly underway [ Link ]. The results of three previously announced “investigations” into alleged abuse by three monk perpetrators (Fathers Dan Ward, Mel Taylor and Timothy Backous) have yet to be make public.

Will the investigation into Father Tom Andert be any different?

*** Father Dan Ward and Father Mel Taylor (Fox 9)

http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-bring-two-monks-under-investigation/

“Two monks from St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota are under investigation for sexual misconduct allegations that date back decades.”

*** Father Timothy Backous (City Pages)

http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/letter-to-catholic-church-officials-calls-for-father-timothy-backous-removal-from-ministry/

“Jim Accurso, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Minneaopolis and St. Paul, which also received a copy of the letter, says he’s opened his own investigation.”

*** Father Tom Andert (MPR)

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/08/20/monastery-prior

“Senna declined to provide further details about the complaint. He said the abbey had referred the allegation to its review board for investigation.”

A list of questions for the open forum “regarding sexual abuse” to be held at 3:00pm today on the campus of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

“Employee Open Forum with Abbot John Klassen”
CSB, SJU, and OSB Faculty, Staff, and Administration
Pellegrene Auditorium, SJU
February 3, 2016 3:00-4:00 p.m.

29 Questions for Abbot John Klassen, OSB  [ View as PDF ]

Background: According to the CSB/SJU Human Rights Office web site: “The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in any form.”

Question 1: What does “zero tolerance” mean and is it defined and/or are the consequences the same for monks, lay personnel, and students on campus?

Background: Saint John’s Abbey once publicly listed members of its community who were credibly accused of sexual misconduct with vulnerable adults and well as those monks who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. For example, Abbot John Eidenschink, Brother Steven Lilly and Brother Isaac Connolly were listed (in 2002 and 2011) as having been credibly accused of sexual misconduct. Brother Isaac Connolly is still at the abbey. His file wasn’t produced on January 19, 2016.

Q 2: What restrictions have been placed on Brother Isaac Connolly?

Q 3: Is Brother Isaac Connolly allowed in the Prep School, the locker room and/or any dorm rooms on campus?

Background: In the past four years, Father Tom Andert, Father Timothy Backous, Father Mel Taylor and Father Dan Ward have each been accused of sexual abuse and/or sexual misconduct. According to statements from the abbey, all four of these monks have been subject to an investigation, Taylor and Ward in 2012, Backous in 2014, and Andert in 2015.

Q 4: Were these monks investigated for sexual abuse of minors or sexual misconduct (of any kind)?

Q 5: Was the purpose of the four investigations to determine whether any civil liability existed or whether “sexual misconduct in any form” had occurred?

Q 6: What were the results of each investigation?

Q 7: What, if any, restrictions have been placed on these monks?

Q 8: Are Father Tom Andert, Father Timothy Backous, Father Mel Taylor and Father Dan Ward allowed in the Prep School, the Palestra locker room and/or any dorm rooms on campus?

Background: Ben Spanier’s suicide in 2014 brought attention to his relationship with Father Tom Andert. Father Andert claims he didn’t sexually abuse Ben. Father Andert did admit, in December of 2015, that while Ben was a minor and a student at the Prep School in the mid-1990s, he bought Ben alcohol. Father Andert also admitted to “caressing Ben’s forehead” in a hotel room they shared.

Q 9: Where is the line?

Q 10: How does Saint John’s Abbey deal with monks who admit to sexual misconduct with a minor but claim that no “abuse” occurred?

Q 11: Doesn’t the community deserve to know about these individuals?

Background: Has any member of the Saint John’s monastic community been removed from their position at Saint John’s Prep School after caught viewing child pornography?

Q 12: Who investigated these claims?

Q 13: What restrictions were placed on the monk?

Q 14: Are they still in effect?

Background: A condition of the settlement of a lawsuit against Father Allen Tarlton in April of 2015 required that the abbey release the personnel files of all monks who sexually abused minors. In an email regarding this “Employee Open Forum with Abbot John Klassen” and on its web site, the abbey claims that it “voluntarily” released the monk files on January 19, 2016.

Q 15: Would the abbey have released the monk files if their release hadn’t been a condition of the settlement with Mr. Bramledge?

Background: In the Abbey’s rush to release the monks’ files to the new “Minnesota Transparency Initiative” web site (www.MNTransparencyInititive.com), the abbey failed to protect the privacy of several victims. In once instance, a victim’s last name, her brother’s name along with her medical and other confidential records were made public by Saint John’s Abbey. The abbey made no apology but said, “If any identifiers have been overlooked, it is unintentional and we welcome the reporting of any specific pages that raise concerns or call for further review.”

Q 16: Who redacted the files and how did they fail so miserably?

Q 17: In removing the entirety of the file (Hohmann #6) containing documents related to the woman (above) the abbey also removed personal notes and important correspondence to and from Abbot John Klassen. Does the abbey intend to repost a redacted version of this file?

 Background: When Saint John’s Abbey released the monk files on January 19, 2016, the files were posted to a new web site called the “Minnesota Transparency Initiative” web site (www.MNTransparencyInititive.com).

Q 18: Will the web site someday include files from other Minnesota institutions?

Q 19: Why weren’t the monk files posted on the abbey’s web site?

Q 20: How long will the web site be available to the public?

Background: In December of 2013, Father Angelo Zankl, a Saint John’s Abbey monk who served in nearby St. Joseph, was included on the Diocese of Duluth’s list of priests “credibly accused of sexually abusing children.”

Q 21: Why wasn’t Father Angelo Zankl’s file released on January 19, 2016?

Background: In 2006, the Archdiocese of New York reported to Saint John’s Abbey that Father Agustin Cerezo Murillo had been credibly accused of sexual abuse while serving in the Bronx in the late 1960’s. His victim, a female, would have been 12 years old at the time of the abuse. The Archdiocese reported that there were “other episodes.”

Q 22: Why wasn’t Father Agustin Cerezo Murillo’s file released on January 19, 2016?

Background: In 2006, Father Tom Gillespie’s personnel file contained a handwritten, personal accounting of many of his victims. Father Gillespie wrote:

1977 14 year old boy; teaching at St. Bernards
1978 Masturbated the 14 year old
1978 13 year old boy – hands in pants, rubbed buttocks
197? One year relationship with 15 year old
1987 10 year old, hands down pants while wrestling

Gillespie also wrote: “I pray for those I have injured through my addiction” and “I feel that I am making amends to them by living a good life and sticking to my new way of life. Some of them might not even be aware that I abused them.”

This information is missing from the files that were released on January 19, 2016, making it appear that Father Gillespie has just one victim.

Q 23: What happened to this page from Father Gillespie’s file?

Q 24: What steps has Saint John’s Abbey taken to ensure that all of Father Gillespie’s victims have their experiences validated?

Background: In May of 2002, Abbot John Klassen took credit for taking a “dramatic step” when he claimed to be proactive in releasing the names of 15 monks, ahead of an October settlement with almost a dozen survivors. Klassen said, “we need more transparency” to “end the culture of secrecy” and “rebuild trust” and “promote healing.”

The January 19, 2016 production of monk files shows that in July of 2003, Abbot John Klassen wrote to Notger Wolf, OSB in Rome regarding Father Francisco Schulte:

“However, there are two other allegations in his file that are serious. Francisco had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a teenage boy in North Carolina back in the 1980s. This has never become public and has never become a lawsuit. However, it could do both at any time, given the charged climate in the United States. Francisco also had several inappropriate sexual relationships with teenage boys when he was a member of San Antonio Abad monastery in Puerto Rico. It is doubtful that these will ever become public knowledge but one never knows. “

In November of 2004, however, Abbot John Klassen reported to the External Review Board that there was “nothing” in Francisco Schulte’s file regarding sexual abuse.

Q 25: In concealing this information from the public and the External Review Board, did Abbot Klassen fail in his pledge to be “more transparent” and “rebuild trust” and “promote healing” for the Saint John’s community?

Q 26: When did St. John’s Abbey first learn of allegations against Father Schulte?

Since 2004, at least two former Prep School students settled complaints against Father Schulte.

Q 27: What type of outreach, from the first time the abbey learned of abuse until today, has been made specifically to Father Francisco Schulte’s victims at the Prep School, his victims in North Carolina and his victims in Puerto Rico?

Background: In 2002, a complaint was settled regarding sexual abuse of a minor by Terry DeSutter, a lay employee at Saint John’s Prep School in the 1980s. Other lay personal (Roger Julkowski and Steve Pavkovich, among others) and visiting monks (Fr. Anthony Smithwick, Fr. Bede Parry, Fr. Paul GoPaul and Fr. Michael Brunovsky, for example) have also been credibly accused of sexual abuse and/or misconduct. The files for eighteen monks were released on January 19, 2016 contain the records of no lay personnel.

Q 28: What resources are available to members of the Saint John’s community who want to learn the identities of all personnel credibly accused of sexual abuse and/or misconduct?

Background: Yes, much of the “sexual abuse” occurred decades ago. This oft-repeated statement minimizes the damage done, not only to those who were “abused,” but also to those who were the victims of sexual misconduct. There are still too many unanswered questions.

Q 29: Moving forward, who will lead the effort for transparency and full disclosure?