May 10, 2016 – Statement Regarding Fr. Gregory Poser, OSC

 

May 10, 2016

STATEMENT REGARDING FATHER GREGORY POSER, OSC

Bishop Donald Kettler has been notified that Crosier Father Gregory Poser has been accused of sexually abusing a minor in the 1970s when he was serving at St. Odilia Church in Shoreview, Minnesota.

St. Odilia is in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which immediately reported the allegation to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. Father Poser was assigned to St. Odilia from 1974 to 1978 and from 1984 to 1985.

The Crosiers also have been notified of the allegation and placed Father Poser on immediate administrative leave from his current assignment at the parishes of Holy Cross in Onamia, St. Rita in Hillman, Sacred Heart in Wahkon, and St. Therese in Vineland — all of which are in the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Father Poser has served as parochial vicar (associate pastor) of these parishes since 2009; from 2004 to 2009, he served these parishes as “pastor in solidum” (co-pastor). He has had no other parish assignments in the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

Bishop Kettler has suspended Father Poser’s priestly faculties in the Diocese of Saint Cloud, meaning he can no longer function or present himself as a priest, while the allegation is investigated. There has been no report of alleged sexual misconduct by Father Poser occurring within the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

A listening session will be planned for the parishes in the Saint Cloud Diocese served by Father Poser.

Bishop Kettler is committed to transparency and providing pastoral assistance to help victims of abuse to find justice and healing. He 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.