News Release: Fr. Antonio Marfori Added to Diocese of St. Cloud’s Clergy Abuse List, Attorneys Challenge Bishop to Release More Information

Attorneys Challenge Bishop to Release More Information About Perpetrator Priest

Late Friday, St. Cloud Diocese Bishop Added Fr. Antonio “Tony” Marfori to Clergy Abuse List

(St. Paul, MN) – On Friday afternoon, St. Cloud Diocese Bishop Donald Kettler added Fr. Antonio “Tony” Marfori to the diocese’s list of clergy likely to have abused minors, making Marfori the 40th name on the list.

“Putting Fr. Marfori on the list is the right thing to do but much more information is needed in order to protect children in St. Cloud,” said Jeff Anderson, attorney for three Marfori sexual abuse survivors.

Specifically, the bishop should immediately inform the community of Marfori’s location in St. Cloud, what restrictions are in place regarding Marfori, how those restrictions are being enforced, and if and how the diocese is keeping him away from children, Anderson said.

Three separate survivors have come forward to report their childhood sexual abuse by Marfori to the Diocese of St. Cloud. Two of them were sexually abused by Marfori at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud and the third was  sexually abused at one of Marfori’s other assignments. During the course of the diocese’s investigation, Anderson’s firm was informed that Marfori was in the Philippines.

Following is Marfori’s assignment history according to the Diocese of St. Cloud:

Marfori was ordained Oct. 7, 1978, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. He worked at the following locations: 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.

When the first lawsuit was filed, Marfori was working as a sacramental minister at St. Andrew Parish in Elk River, MN.

“We believe that Marfori is an extremely dangerous perpetrator, which is why we are calling on the bishop to release more information about Marfori immediately,” Anderson said.

Contact Jeff Anderson:  Cell: 612.817.8665 Office: 651.227.9990

Contact Mike Bryant: Cell: 800.359.0061 Office: 320.259.5414