Media Advisory : Saint Luke Institute, Father Francis Hoefgen Named in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Jeff Anderson & Associates
November 18, 2013

http://www.andersonadvocates.com/Posts/News-or-Event/1674/Media-Advisory-Saint-Luke-Institute-Father-Francis-Hoefgen-Named-in-Sexual-Abuse-Lawsuit-.aspx

St. Paul News Conference Tuesday

First Child Victims Act Lawsuit to Name Treatment Facility Run by Bishops

Where Known Offenders were Recycled into Ministry

Father Francis Hoefgen admitted abuse to police, sent to St. Luke’s

and placed back in Hastings parish where he molested Doe 27

Saint Luke Institute, St. John’s, Archdiocese, named in sexual abuse lawsuit

What: At a news conference on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota former priest and monk Patrick J. Wall, along with attorney Jeff Anderson, will:

• Announce the filing of a sexual abuse lawsuit on behalf of a Minnesota man now in his 30s, naming the Order of St. Benedict a/k/a and d/b/a St. John’s Abbey, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Saint Luke Institute and Father Francis Hoefgen as defendants. The lawsuit alleges defendants were negligent in allowing Father Hoefgen to work with children after admitting to police in 1984 that he sexually abused a minor. Hoefgen, a member of St. John’s, was subsequently sent to St. Luke’s for an evaluation in 1984 and returned to ministry in 1985 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings, where he sexually abused Doe 27.

• Request the Order publicly release the names and files of 17 accused clerics who are credibly accused of sexual abuse involving minor children and for the Archdiocese to release their list of 33 priests credibly accused of sexual abuse.

• Reveal the police report and internal church documents regarding Hoefgen.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 11:00AM

WHERE: Jeff Anderson & Associates

366 Jackson Street, Suite 100

St. Paul, MN 55101

WHO: Patrick J. Wall, former priest and monk, was assigned by the Abbott and Archbishop to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Hastings, MN immediately following Father Hoefgen’s departure. Wall now works for Jeff Anderson & Associates as a consultant and advocate for sexual abuse survivors. Jeff Anderson, sexual abuse attorney, will be available for additional comment and questions.

Notes:

• Information packets, including copies of the documents, will be available at the press conference and on our website tomorrow at www.andersonadvocates.com.

• Fr. Hoefgen remained in ministry until 1992 and worked in parishes in Hastings and Cold Spring, Minnesota. He is believed to be living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Contact Patrick Wall: Office: 651.964.3458 Cell: 949.307.3935

Contact Jeff Anderson: Office: 651.964.3458 Cell: 612.817.8665