July 1, 2019 STATEMENT RE: FATHER JOSEPH BACKOWSKI The following is a statement from Bishop Donald Kettler of St. Cloud: “Father Joseph Backowski has been on leave since January from his previous assignments in Breckenridge and Kent to address personal health concerns. In anticipation of his return to ministry, a plan was developed in…
March 29, 2019 LAWSUIT REGARDING DIOCESE OF ST. CLOUD The Diocese of St. Cloud is among the defendants in a civil lawsuit accusing Father Joseph Backowski of sexual misconduct with an adult woman. Father Backowski is pastor of St. Mary of the Presentation Church in Breckenridge and St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Kent. He has…
March 6, 2019 FOUR LISTENING SESSIONS SCHEDULE FOR MARCH Bishop Donald Kettler will hold listening sessions following an allegation of past sexual misconduct involving Bishop Harold Dimmerling while he was serving as a priest of the Diocese of St. Cloud. Because of that allegation, Bishop Kettler has asked a Diocesan Response Team to hold listening…
An allegation of past sexual misconduct involving Bishop Harold Dimmerling has been made. Because of that allegation, Bishop Kettler has asked a Diocesan Response Team to hold listening sessions for the people of the parishes in which Bishop Dimmerling served. There will be listening sessions on the following dates: Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 5:30…
November 12, 2018 ADDITIONAL CLERGY NAME DISCLOSURE Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of Saint Cloud has added the name of Bishop Harold Dimmerling to the list of clergy likely to have abused minors. Dimmerling was a priest of the Saint Cloud Diocese who later served as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, from 1969…
The following is a list of clergy, to date, who were assigned by the bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud to serve within the diocese and have been identified as likely to have abused minors. The list includes the parishes where each of those clergy served within the diocese. It also includes religious community…
August 22, 2018 RE: AUG. 22 ANDERSON PRESS CONFERENCE The decision on whether to convene a statewide grand jury is for others to make. If one is convened, the Diocese of St. Cloud will fully cooperate. In 2016, the diocese provided all files and documents related to the sexual abuse of minors that were requested…
February 28, 2018 DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING CLAIMS AGAINST DIOCESE OF ST. CLOUD The Minnesota Child Victims Act, which lifted for three years the civil statute of limitations for allegations of past sexual abuse of minors, ended in May 2016. During that time, a total of 74 civil claims were made against the Diocese of St. Cloud….
February 14, 2018 UPDATED STATEMENT RE: FATHER ANTHONY OELRICH Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of Saint Cloud has been notified by the St. Cloud Police Department that Father Anthony Oelrich, a priest of the diocese, was arrested Feb. 13 following an investigation of alleged sexual misconduct involving an adult woman. Bishop Kettler has removed…
February 13, 2018 STATEMENT RE: FATHER ANTHONY OELRICH Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of Saint Cloud has been notified by the St. Cloud Police Department that Father Anthony Oelrich, a priest of the diocese, was arrested Feb. 13 following an investigation of alleged sexual misconduct involving an adult woman. Bishop Kettler has placed Father…
