The Minneapolis Tribune took time to look at the second anniversary to look at how it is going. The story was interesting for its overview, but there are areas that are worth looking at a little closer.
There have been criminal claims looked at and now being pursued. At this time in Dakota County there is a trial going on against Francis Hoefgen, a former St. John’s Abbey monk now living in Columbia Heights, for allegedly abusing a boy from 1989 to 1992. His arrest followed the victim’s lawsuit filed last year. A Hibbing priest was arrested and jailed for sexual misconduct with three girls. One priest on the Crookston Diocese list, the Rev. Joseph Jeyapaul, was extradited from India and pleaded guilty to criminal sexual misconduct last Friday. That same day, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis removed a priest from active ministry in Richfield.
(Update) I had no idea that on the day of this post we would also see the Ramsey County Attorney’s office filed criminal charges against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for “failing to protect children” from an abusive priest.
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.
