The Diocese of Crookston released a list today of 6 priests accused of sexually abusing minors. They also disclosed 5 more with ties to the area. The release comes several monthes after a lawsuit was filed seeking the release of information. That case had included motions concerning the list release. These lists have been hidden until now. Monsignor David Baumgartner, vicar general of the Crookston Diocese, emailed the list Friday to the Grand Forks Herald.
The list of 6 credibly accused priests includes:
• James Porter, who admitted abusing children in five states. Porter served as pastor of St. Bernard’s church in Bemidji from 1969 to ’70 and was a key figure in the Boston clergy abuse scandal. He died in 2005.
Date of Birth: January 2, 1935
Date of Ordination: April 2,1960
Assignments in the Diocese of Crookston:
Asst. Pastor: St. Philip, Bemidji 1969-70
Diocese or religious order: Diocese of Fall River, MA
Current Status:Deceased February 11, 2005
. Rev. Joseph Jeyapaul, is facing extradition from his home in India to face charges that he sexually assaulted two teenage girls while he worked in the Crookston diocese between 2004 and 2005.
Date of Birth: January 20, 1955
Date of Ordination: May 19, 1982
Assignments in the Diocese of Crookston:
Priest in residence:St.Bernard, Thief River Falls 2004
Administrator: Blessed Sacrament, Greenbush, St. Joseph, Middle River, St. Edward,Karlstad 2004-2005
Diocese or religious order: Diocese of Ootacamund, India
Date removed from ministry:September 15,2005
Current Location:Diocese of Ootacamund, India
Current Status:unknown
• Rev. Stanley Bourassa, ordained in 1955, who served parishes in Red Lake Falls, Crookston, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, St. Lawrence, Barnsville and Sabin. He died in 2004.
Date of Birth: April 13, 1929
Date of Ordination: June 4, 1955
Assignments in the Diocese of Crookston:
Asst. Pastor: St. Joseph, Red Lake Falls 1955-1957
Asst. Pastor: St. Anne, Crookston 1957-1961
Asst. Pastor: St. Philip, Bemidji 1961-1962
Asst. Pastor: Sacred Heart, East Grand Forks 1962-1969
Pastor: St. Mary, Fosston, St. Lawrence, Mentor 1969-1977
Pastor: Sacred Heart, East Grand Forks 1977-1981
Pastor: St. Bernard, Thief River Falls, St. Ann, Goodridge , St. Clement, Grygla 1981-1991
Pastor: Assumption, Barnesville, St. Cecilia, Sabin 1991-1999
Retired:July 1, 1999
Diocese of religious order: Diocese of Crookston
Current Status:Deceased August 11, 2004
• Rev. Henry Carriere, ordained in 1946, who served parishes in Crookston, Fertile, Bemidji, Argyle, Guthrie, Laporte, Brooks, Plummer, Terrebone, Argyle and Badger. He died in 2003.
Date of Birth: May 9, 1920
Date of Ordination: June 16, 1946
Assignments in the Diocese of Crookston:
Asst. Pastor: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston 1946
Asst. Pastor: St. Joseph, Fertile 1946-1948
Asst. Pastor: St. Philip, Bemidji 1948-1950
Asst. Pastor: St. Rose of Lima, Argyle, 1950-1952
Administrator: St. Lawrence, Guthrie, St. Theodore, Laporte 1952-1955
Chaplain: St. Joseph Hospital, Park Rapids 1952-1955
Pastor: St.Joseph, Brooks 1955-1972
Pastor: St.Vincent de Paul, Plummer 1965-1969
Pastor: St.Anthony, Terrebonne 1969-1972
Pastor:St. Rose of Lima,Argyle 1972-1982
Pastor: Sacred Heart, Roseau, St. Mary, Badger 1982-1990
Retired July 2, 1990
Diocese or religious order: Diocese of Crookston
Date removed from ministry:June 19, 2002
Current Status:
Deceased November 3, 2003
• Rev. Vincent Fitzgerald, ordained in 1950. He worked at parishes in Kelliher, Shooks, Naytahwaush, Big Elbow Lake and White Earth. He died in 2009.
Date of Birth: December 8, 1919
Date of Ordination: May 27, 1950
Assignments in the Diocese of Crookston:
Asst. Pastor: St. Patrick, Kelliher, St. Joseph, Shooks 1973-1974
Pastor: St. Anne, Naytahwaush, St. Frances Cabrini, Big Elbow Lake, St. Benedict, White Earth 1983-1986
Diocese or religious order: Order of Mary Immaculate
Current Status:Deceased September 27, 2009
• Rev. Francis Reid, ordained in 1964, who served in churches in Crookston, Bemidji, Argyle, Thief River Falls, Waubun, Akeley, Nevis, Ponsford, Mahnomen, Park Rapids, Two Inlets and Lake Itasca. He was removed from the ministry in 1992 and died in 2007.
Date of Birth: June 10,1922
Date of Ordination: May 23, 1964
Assignments in the Diocese of Crookston:
Asst. Pastor: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston 1964-1965
Asst. Pastor: St. Philip’s, Bemidji 1965-1966
Asst.Pastor: St. Rose of Lima, Argyle 1966-1968
Asst. Pastor: St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls 1968-1971
Administrator: St. Ann, Waubun 1971
Pastor: St. John’s, Akeley, Immaculate Conception, Nevis, St. Theodore, Ponsford 1971-1977
Pastor: St. Michael, Mahnomen 1977-1980
Pastor: St. Peter the Apostle, Park Rapids 1980-1990
Pastor: St. Mary, Two Inlets, St. Theodore, Ponsford, St. Catherine, Lake Itasca 1990-1992
Retired: July 1, 1992
Diocese of Religious Order: Diocese of Crookston
Date removed from ministry:July 1, 1992
Current Status:Deceased April 15, 2007
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The names are now disclosed, there are more lists that exist in Minnesota, and there are many more names to find.
Abuse of children and the continued silence by the offenders needs to be prevented. If you suffered, saw, or suspected such events, it is important to know that there is help out there.
A founding partner with Bradshaw & Bryant, Mike Bryant has always fought to find justice for his clients—knowing that legal troubles, both personal injury and criminal, can be devastating for a family. Voted a Top 40 Personal Injury "Super Lawyer" multiple years, Mr. Bryant has also been voted one of the Top 100 Minnesota "Super Lawyers" four times.
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