Alleged Sexual Assult by Retired Chisholm Priest

Northlands News Center
October 7, 2013

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/Alleged-sexual-assult-by-retired-Chisholm-priest-226810791.html

A spokesman for the Duluth Diocese says a woman, who says she was sexually abused by a priest in Chisholm sometime between 1975 and 1986, has chosen not to contact authorities regarding the alleged assault.

However church officials say the complaint is credible.

The priest was at St. Joseph's church in Chisholm at the time of the alleged assault of a minor female.

We haven't named the priest because at KBJR we have a policy against naming an alleged perpetrator until charges have been made.

At the time of the alleged sexual assault the priest was working at St. Joseph's church in Chisholm.

He was there from 1975 to 1986, and retired in July 2012.

In September of 2012, when the accusation came out, the priest was removed from all public ministries.

Bishop Paul Sirba, while devastated by the complaint, says he hopes it will raise awareness about clergy sexual abuse and prevent cases like this from happening in the future.

"I deeply regret the long-lasting and devastating effects of sexual misconduct on the part of the clergy and am completely committed to assisting its victims and preventing any recurrence of these crimes," said Bishop Paul Sirba.

Since 1992 the Diocese of Duluth has had a sexual misconduct policy in place to help prevent sexual abuse from happening.

The accused pastor worked as a priest since 1956 in venues including Duluth, Eveleth, Chisholm, Cook, Brainerd, and Hinckley.

Elsa Robins

Contact: erobins@kbjr.com