Diocese of St. Cloud [/one_half] [one_half last=last] MEDIA CONTACT
Joe Towalski
Director of Communications
(O) 320-258-7624
jtowalski@gw.stcdio.org[/one_half]
March 16, 2016
STATEMENT REGARDING TODAY’S COMPLAINT AND HEARING
The Diocese of St. Cloud has been named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit alleging that Father Antonio Marfori sexually abused a minor in the late 1970s while he was an instructor at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud.
The diocese is reviewing this complaint.
Father Marfori was named in a complaint last October, also alleging sexual abuse in the late 1970s of a minor who attended Cathedral High School. After learning of the allegation last October, Bishop Donald Kettler removed Father Marfori’s priestly faculties, meaning he could no longer function or present himself as a priest, while the allegation is investigated.
There was no report of sexual misconduct prior to receiving the October complaint.
Bishop Kettler held a series of listening sessions last month in areas where Father Marfori served. The sessions had three main goals: to assure parishioners of Bishop Kettler’s support and assistance, to offer a process whereby sexual misconduct issues and concerns could be voiced and discussed, and to allow other potential victims the opportunity to come forward and receive assistance and healing. Members of the Diocesan Response Team were present to offer such assistance.
Father Marfori was ordained Oct. 7, 1978 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. He has served the following assignments: part-time associate, St. Francis Xavier, Sartell, and part-time instructor (later instructor and assistant chaplain), Cathedral High School, St. Cloud, 1978-1980; associate pastor, St. Paul, Sauk Centre, 1980-1984; post-graduate studies, 1984-1985; pastor, St. Agnes, Roscoe, 1985-1993; pastor, St. Margaret, Lake Henry (while continuing at St. Agnes), 1987-1993; pastor, St. Pius X, Zimmerman, 1993-2007; pastor, St. Anne, Kimball, 2007-2008; canonical administrator, St. Elizabeth, Brennyville, SS. Peter and Paul, Gilman, and St. Joseph, Morrill, 2008-2010; Leave of absence (medical), 2010.
Bishop Kettler continues to encourage 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. The diocese’s sexual misconduct policy, first promulgated by the bishop of the Saint Cloud Diocese in 1991 and revised in 2003 and 2007, also is available online at: https://stcdio.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/misconduct_policy.pdf. The diocese works to provide safe environments for everyone and works in compliance with the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.