NEWS RELEASE
Diocese of St. Cloud
MEDIA CONTACT
Joe Towalski
Director of Communications
(O) 320-258-7624
jtowalski@gw.stcdio.org
January 6, 2015
DIOCESE OF ST. CLOUD STATEMENT REGARDING TODAY’S COMPLAINT
The Diocese of St. Cloud has been named in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by James Thoennes while he was assigned at St. John Parish in Foley in the early 1970s.
The diocese has not yet had an opportunity to review the complaint and cannot comment on the specifics at this time.
As he has stated in the past, Bishop Donald Kettler is committed to transparency and providing pastoral assistance to help victims of abuse to find justice and healing. In January 2014, the bishop released a list of clergy who were likely involved in the past in the sexual abuse of minors. The list also included the parishes and/or schools where these individuals served. James Thoennes was included on this list. He does not have faculties to serve publicly as a priest and currently lives in St. Cloud under restrictions.
Bishop Kettler encourages all victims of abuse to come forward. Contact information for victim advocates and county officials to whom abuse can be reported is available online at: https://stcdio.org/about/safe-environment/how-to-report-abuse.