Plymouth Man Claims to Be Sexually Abused by Priest

By Blake McCoy
KARE
October 7, 2013

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/1041695/391/Plymouth-man-claims-to-be-sexually-abused-by-priest

Another victim claiming sexual abuse by a priest shared his story publicly on Monday at the foot of the St. Paul Cathedral.

"I just come today to say, 'Yeah. I'm one of them,'" proclaimed Frank Meuers, of Plymouth. "I came today because I wanted to speak out about the secrecy that continues, and it simply drives me nuts. I feel re-victimized over and over and over."

Meuers showed KARE 11 a letter he sent to church officials outlining his abuse in 2010. It took church leaders nine months to respond, finally admitting they've spoken to several individuals who were abused by the same priest.

That priest, Father Rudolph Heinrich, of St. Margaret Mary parish in Golden Valley, has long since passed away.

"I know with the track record of this particular gentleman, in my heart, that he has hundreds of victims out there," said Meuers.

These new details emerge alongside fresh allegations of a cover-up involving child pornography found on a Hugo priest's computer.

In a statement Archbishop John Nienstedt said, "These allegations must be addressed urgently, transparently and with truly independent review."

Nienstedt called it "the top priority for the Archdiocese" and announced he's launching a task force to be headed by Father Reginald Whitt of the University of St. Thomas Law School.

The leader of SNAP, a victim support group, stood by Meuers on Monday and questioned how truly independent that review will be.

"It's not independent just because the Archbishop says it is, and it's especially not independent if it's headed by someone that he picks and who is in fact a priest and a lawyer," said David Clohessy.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis denied KARE 11's request for an on camera interview Monday and said they were scheduling a news conference for later in the week.

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