September 18, 2014 – Diocese of St. Cloud Statement Regarding Today’s Complaint

 

September 18, 2014

DIOCESE OF ST. CLOUD STATEMENT REGARDING TODAY’S COMPLAINT

The Diocese of St. Cloud is among the defendants named in civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse committed by Richard Eckroth and Cosmas Dahlheimer, monks of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville who also served in parishes within the Diocese of St. Cloud.

The diocese has not yet had an opportunity to review the complaints and cannot comment on the specifics of the cases.

Bishop Donald Kettler is committed to transparency and providing pastoral assistance to help victims of abuse to find justice and healing. Last January, Bishop Kettler released a list of all clergy — diocesan priests as well as members of religious communities who served in parishes in the diocese — likely involved in the sexual abuse of minors in the past. He also named the parishes and/or schools in the diocese where they served. The list of 33 names includes Dahlheimer, who is deceased, and Eckroth, who currently resides in Collegeville. Twenty-one of the men on the list are deceased; none is currently in ministry.

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. The diocese’s sexual misconduct policy also is available online at: https://stcdio.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/misconduct_policy.pdf.

News Release – Diocese of Saint Cloud Statement – September 18, 2014 (PDF)