98 Claims Received by Diocese of New Ulm

Advocate Tribune
June 2, 2016

http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20160602/NEWS/160609903

The Diocese of New Ulm engaged in a day of prayer Wednesday, May 25, the final day to make a civil sexual abuse claim under the Minnesota Child Victims Act. According to a press release from the Diocese of New Ulm, Bishop John LeVoir called on all local Catholics to pray for healing, reconciliation, and hope.

The Diocese of New Ulm engaged in a day of prayer Wednesday, May 25, the final day to make a civil sexual abuse claim under the Minnesota Child Victims Act. According to a press release from the Diocese of New Ulm, Bishop John LeVoir called on all local Catholics to pray for healing, reconciliation, and hope.

“Today is a day to remember in prayer all those harmed through abuse by priests or others in Church ministry,” said Bishop LeVoir. “It is a time to recommit to efforts to prevent the abuse of the vulnerable and to vow never to forget the lessons of this tragic chapter in church history.”

As of the end of the day on May 24, the Diocese of New Ulm and parishes within the Diocese had received claims from 98 victims and survivors under the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which temporarily lifted the civil statute of limitations for historic claims of sexual abuse of a minor. Of the Diocese’s 75 parishes, 28 are named in claims.

A total of four of the 19 priests credibly accused of sexual abuse served in either pastoral or administrative capacities at area churches, including all four at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Granite Falls.

According to the release, The Diocese will continue to work closely with the law firm of Jeff Anderson & Associates and other representatives of victims and survivors as the aggrieved move forward in their healing journey. The Diocese and Jeff Anderson & Associates have committed to taking the time necessary, working together, to come to a fair resolution of claims that allows the work of the Church to continue while promoting healing.

“The Diocese is committed to helping victims and survivors in healing and protecting children and young people from abuse,” said Bishop LeVoir. “I apologize on behalf of the Church to victims and survivors of sexual abuse by priests.”

“The release of names and the Diocese’s efforts since then demonstrate a willingness by the Diocese of New Ulm to be transparent about clergy who have abused children,” said Jeff Anderson, referring to the Diocese’s March 2016 release of the names of 16 priests credibly accused of sexually abusing children. “We will continue to work together to put this commitment to transparency and healing into action.”

While the period for filing civil claims on historical abuse ends today, the Diocese continues to encourage anyone who has suffered sexual abuse or exploitation by a priest or anyone else involved in Church ministry in the Diocese of New Ulm immediately to report such misconduct to local law enforcement, regardless of when the misconduct occurred.

Victims and survivors of abuse in the Church are also encouraged to contact the diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 1421 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073 or 507-233-5313 for counseling or other assistance in healing.

The Diocese is considering all options for fairly resolving the claims made against it, including reorganization under the bankruptcy laws. However, diocesan leaders do not foresee any imminent decision in this regard.

Parishioners and Catholic school families are being informed of the claims against parishes. It is not expected that the claims will affect the normal operations of parishes or Catholic schools in the Diocese.

More information about healing resources, the Diocese’s response to claims, names of priests accused of abuse, and safeguards put in place to protect children can be found at www.dnu.org.

The following is a list of the four priests serving in local parishes.

Fr. Gordon Buckley: has a credibly confirmed case of sexual abuse, with imminent litigation, that occurred in Granite Falls while he was assigned to St. Andrew and St. James in Dawson. He also served St. Mary in Cottonwood, 1960-61; the Church of St. Isidore in Clarkfield, 1961-63; and the Church of St. Michael in Milroy, 1969-78. Buckley retired from active ministry in 1978 and died in 1985.

Fr. Charles Stark: is alleged to have committed abuse while assigned at St. John in Darwin where he was located from 1965-69. His following assignment was at St. Andrews from 1969-1971.

Fr. Bernard Steiner:?was ordained in February 1961, for the Diocese of New Ulm. He served as pastor of St. James, Dawson and the mission of St. Isidore, Clarkfield from 1965-1969 and from 1981 - 1982 as an Administrator St. Andrews in Granite?Falls.

Additionally, he was pastor of St. James and Dawson from 1978-1981; St. Clara, Clara City from 1982-1987; and was Administrator at the Sacred Heart and Raymond parishes from 1982 to 1987,

According to the release, the credible case of abuse occurred at the Church of St. Paul in Comfrey, Minnesota in the 1970s. Steiner retired from assigned ministry in 2005.

Fr. Francis Markey:?Has a long history of sex abuse dating back to the 1960s. He underwent treatment multiple times in Ireland and England before essentially being kicked out of both countries.

While assigned at St. Andrews Parish for three months in 1982 he would abuse at least one child from the parish and one vulnerable adult at another institution within the community.

Markey died in jail in 2012 while awaiting charges of raping a 15-year old in Ireland over 40 years ago.