Task Force to Look at Sex Misconduct by Clergy Members
By Emily Gurnon
The new members of a task force on clergy sexual misconduct in the Twin Cities archdiocese were announced Wednesday afternoon. The members are Medtronic attorney Kathleen Erickson DiGiorno, who will chair the task force; University of St. Thomas law professor Julie Oseid; former St. Paul police sergeant and Internet sex crimes expert Brook Schaub; Brian Short, CEO of Leamington Co. and former board member of Catholic Charities; Colleen Striegel, former human resources director of the University of St. Thomas; and sex offender treatment psychologist Michael D. Thompson. University of St. Thomas law professor and priest the Rev. Reginald Whitt told reporters Wednesday that the new Safe Environment and Ministerial Standards Task Force will examine policies and procedures of the archdiocese in the area of clergy misconduct. He noted that recent news stories have reported on priests involved in the sexual abuse of minors, and ways archdiocesan officials have addressed those issues. No matter how true or false or accurate they may be, the allegations in these reports are sickening and despicable, Whitt said. In his new position as vicar for ministerial standards, Whitt will supervise all issues related to clergy sexual misconduct, he said. His first task was to appoint the task force members and chair. Its first meeting took place Wednesday. Archbishop John Nienstedt appointed Whitt on Saturday. Whitt said he will not be a part of the task force, but will review the findings in light of civil and canon law, and then publish them. In response to questions from reporters, Whitt said the task force would be independent. It will interview archdiocese officials as well as, perhaps, alleged victims and priests accused of misconduct. It won't have subpoena power, he said, but will urge individuals to be interviewed voluntarily, Whitt said. Short said he believed fellow members would share his concern for what had been reported in the media. "I am a product of what the Catholic Church can do that is good in the world," having had a Catholic education from grade school to law school, he said. "If the Catholic Church doesn't fix this problem, its ability to act as a force for good in this world ... is over." The archdiocese has come under fire for its handling of the case of the Rev. Jonathan Shelley, who owned a computer in 2004 that was later found to have porn images on it. Shelley, 52, was the priest at St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi at the time. Law enforcement did not become involved until a former official of the archdiocese, who resigned in April, contacted the Ramsey County attorney's office. St. Paul police closed an investigation last week, saying they had not found images of child pornography. They announced Tuesday that they had reopened the investigation with new evidence. Shelley has not been charged. He has denied possessing child pornography. Critics said they had no hope that the group would bring positive change. "These church appointees -- they always talk tough," David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "I'm sure these are good, sincere people who mean well." But the archbishop is in charge, he said. A closer look at the task force members: -- Kathleen Erickson DiGiorno. Task force chairwoman. Attorney at Medtronic, where she served for four years as its chief ethics and compliance officer. Former partner at Briggs and Morgan, where she represented corporate clients in business litigation, according to a University of Notre Dame biography. Bachelor's degree from Notre Dame; law degree, University of Minnesota. Parishioner of Roseville's Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Gave $1,000 to Minnesotans United for All Families, a group that worked to defeat an amendment that would have banned gay marriage, a donor database created by MinnPost says. -- Julie Oseid. Law professor at the University of St. Thomas. Previously practiced law at Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly. Law degree from U of M. -- Brook T. Schaub. Former St. Paul police sergeant. Current manager of computer forensics and e-discovery at Eide Bailly LLP. Has served for 10 years as a consultant to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. -- Brian P. Short. CEO, Leamington Co., a holding company with interests in transportation and other areas. Former U.S. magistrate. Has served on the boards of Catholic Charities, Saint Thomas Academy, University of St. Thomas School of Law and William Mitchell College of Law. Undergraduate degree from Notre Dame and a degree from its law school. -- Colleen Striegel. Current director of human resources for the American Refugee Committee, where she was part of the first team to investigate sexual exploitation of refugees by aid workers in West Africa in the early 2000s. Former human resources director for St. Thomas. -- Michael D. Thompson. Psychologist who specializes in sex-offender assessment and treatment. President of Minnesota Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Earned his master's degree in social work from Fordham University. Sarah Horner, Patricia Thraen and Kia Farhang contributed to this report. Contact: egurnon@pioneerpress.com
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