A Statement from Most Rev. John M. Quinn, Bishop of Winona

By Joel Hennessy
Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona
December 16, 2013

http://www.dow.org/News/tabid/75/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/142/DIOCESE-DISCLOSES-NAMES.aspx

[with list of names]

In 2002, the National Review Board commissioned the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to conduct a blind study to determine the nature and scope of child sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Each diocese in the United States was contacted by John Jay College and was required to report the number of priests within its diocese who had “credible” accusations of abuse.

The national study required the report of any accusation that was not implausible (see definition below). This included allegations that did not necessarily result in a criminal, civil or diocesan investigation and allegations that were unsubstantiated.

The national study defined an implausible allegation as one that could not possibly have happened under the given circumstances (e.g., an accusation is made to a bishop about a priest who never served at that diocese). The study went on to say that erroneous information does not necessarily make the allegation implausible (e.g., a priest arrived at the diocese a year after the alleged abuse, but all other facts of the case are credible and the alleged victim might have mistaken the

date). Allegations that were determined not to be “implausible” have since been referred to as “credible” accusations.

The methodology of the national study encouraged over-reporting and the study specifically directed each diocese not to engage in the endeavor of weighing the credibility of any of the accusations out of concern that the data produced by the study would arguably be invalid because of subjective determinations as to the credibility of, or substantiation of, the allegation(s).

The national study concluded that approximately 4% of priests in ministry in the United States had accusations of abuse made against them. The study also found that the annual number of incidents of sexual abuse of minors by priests increased steadily to a peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s and then declined sharply after 1985.

The Ramsey County District Court has ordered that the Diocese of Winona publicly release the names associated with the John Jay College Study, as well any other priests who have had accusations of child sexual abuse since 2004. In compliance with that Order, the Diocese of Winona hereby releases the following names, ages, places of ministry, ministerial status and current location of each priest associated with the John Jay Study, as well as the same information of those who have been accused of perpetrating sexual abuse against a minor since 2002.

Thirteen John Jay Study Priests

Thomas P. Adamson - Permanently removed from ministry in 1984; laicized 2009.

Sylvester F. Brown - Deceased 2010.

Joseph C. Cashman - Permanently removed from ministry in 1992; laicization pending in Canonical Tribunal.

Louis G. Cook - Deceased 2004.

William D. Curtis - Deceased 2001.

John R. Feiten - Deceased 2001.

Richard E. Hatch - Deceased 2005.

Ferdinand L. Kaiser - Deceased 1973.

Jack L. Krough -Permanently removed from ministry in 2002; laicization pending in Canonical Tribunal.

Michael J. Kuisle - Deceased 1971.

James W. Lennon -Deceased 2000.

Leland J. Smith - Permanently removed from ministry in 1994; laicization pending in Canonical Tribunal.

Robert H. Taylor - Deceased 2012.

Priests Accused of Abuse after 2004

Leo Charles Koppala - Administrative leave pending outcome of criminal proceedings in Faribault County, MN.

The Diocese of Winona is committed to the protection of young people and adherence to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and encourages anyone who has been sexual abused to immediately report the abuse to law enforcement or the proper authorities.

Complete Safe Environment program details and policies can be viewed on the diocesan website, www.dow.org, follow the link on the right side of the page titled “Keeping Our Promise to Protect”. The Disclosure Regarding Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors can be found by following the “Victims Assistance and Advocacy” link.