SNAPmidwest.org
December 2004
(Click Here for Photo)
1979 --
ordained
1979-1984 -- South City - St. Joan of Arc* 3548 Sulphur Ave.
1985- 1990---South City - Sts. Mary and Joseph, 6304 Minnesota Ave.
1991---St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist*
1992 -1995--- South City � St. Gabriel the Archangel, 6303 Nottingham Ave. *
1996-1999 --
South City - St. Louis Holy Family Church, 4125 Humphrey St.*
2000- 2005 North City - St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, 4330 Shreve Ave.*
A young man reported that Freymuth molested him roughly 15 years ago. Msgr. Richard Stika (the archdiocese's "point man" on abuse) didn't believe the victim.
Dec. 2004
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A second young man, Tim Bartin, made an in-person report to a church panel, detailing inappropriate sexualized "grooming" behavior by Freymuth against him. Bartin was roughly 12 at the time.
Dec. 31, 2004
SNAP holds news conference outside Cardinal Ritter Prep, 701 N. Spring Avenue, 446-5500 (where Freymuth has been teaching for at least two years). We express concerns about Freymuth. His name appears in the media for the first time. Archdiocesan spokesman Jamie Allman claims Freymuth was suspended three weeks earlier.
Jan. 7, 2005
The archdiocesan newspaper reports that Freymuth "is released from the office of chaplain at Cardinal Ritter High School and assigned residence at Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Center in Alma, Mich., effective Jan. 3, 2005." In the same issue, the following article appeared:
Priest reassigned to therapy program By Barbara Watkins, Review Staff Writer
Pending completion of an investigation into inappropriate conduct, and archdiocesan priest has been reassigned to a therapy and evaluation program, said Msgr. Richard Stika, Episcopal vicar for child and youth protection.
Last month, during mediation of a lawsuit concerning another priest, allegations were raised about Father Michael Freymuth over events purported to have taken place about Father Michael Freymuth over events purported to have taken place approximately 20 years ago, said Bernard Huger, and attorney for the archdiocese. The allegations which Huger stressed were not of sexual misconduct, included the priest taking a young boy into his room alone.
Archdiocesan officials first heard of the allegation Dec. 16, Huger said.
Shortly afterward Father Freymuth was removed from his assignments as chaplain at Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School and part time associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Mother of John the Baptist Parish.
Father Freymuth is assigned to a program for priest who have had "spiritual, emotional or mental " difficulties said Msgr. Stika. Father Freymuth has denied the allegation, said Msgr. Stika.
(* denotes parish with parochial school attached.)
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