BishopAccountability.org
	St. Paul Man Accuses Former Delasalle High School Brother of Sexual Abuse in the 1960s Suit Claims Prior Molestation Covered up By John Brewer Pioneer Press February 27, 2009 http://www.twincities.com/ci_11795968?nclick_check=1 DeLaSalle High School and two parent Roman Catholic organizations were named in a fraud lawsuit filed Thursday in Ramsey County. The suit alleges the groups covered up abuse by a DeLaSalle brother that led to another student being abused. The suit accuses the Christian Brothers of the Midwest, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church; the Christian Brothers of Minnesota; and DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis of fraud because they allegedly knew of prior abuse by Brother Charles Anthony "Raimond" Rose but allowed him to continue working with children. In a news conference Thursday, John Purdy, of St. Paul, and his attorney, Patrick Noaker of the Jeff Anderson & Associates law firm, said that while Purdy was a junior at DeLaSalle in 1966 and 1967, Rose repeatedly sexually abused him at the rectory of the school. "What may be the most tragic aspect of this case is that it could have been avoided entirely," Noaker said. "John didn't have to be sexually abused. They knew Brother Rose had sexually abused another child prior to John being abused." The other child allegedly was another student at DeLaSalle, Noaker said. In 2003, Rose was named in a California civil suit as having abused a 14-year-old boy while on a ski trip in 1982. The suit was settled for $1 million. Purdy said he only considered the suit in 2007 after learning Rose was still working with children. Noaker said Rose is living in Chicago, just blocks from the De La Salle Institute, a high school for boys. In a statement, the Christian Brothers of the Midwest said Rose, 76, has not been active in the ministry or had any contact with minors since 2002. "Today, we are saddened to learn of allegations stemming from sexual abuse that occurred in the 1960s by one of our Members, Brother Raimond Rose," the statement read. "These allegations are contrary to our mission and all that we profess." DeLaSalle Vice President Michael O'Keefe said he couldn't comment on the suit because he hasn't seen it. He first heard about it when a reporter called him Thursday morning for comment. "We haven't received a copy of it yet," he said, adding that the school had never been named as a defendant in any previous suits. Purdy graduated from the high school in 1968. He is now a mechanic in Minneapolis, married with two children. "I started on this quest back in 1999, when I did realize he was still out in the community," he said during the news conference. The suit claims the defendants' "silence, intentional concealment and/or negligent and/or reckless failure to prevent or discover Bro(ther) Rose's continuing acts of sexual misconduct constitutes a fraud and also prevented Plaintiff from discovering or suing upon the wrongs done to him." It goes on to list Purdy's damages: "great pain of mind and body, severe and permanent emotional distress, physical manifestations of emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, humiliation and psychological injuries," among other complications. The suit seeks a judgment in excess of $50,000. John Brewer can be reached at 651-228-2093.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.