|
| Statement on 12 Notices of Claim
Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm
March 13, 2015
http://www.dnu.org/documents/2015.03.06-NoticesofClaim.pdf
[file]
The Catholic Diocese of New Ulm, Minn., has been named in 12 Notices of Claim
alleging sexual misconduct involving a minor by four priests of the diocese:
Fr. Dennis Becker (retired)
Fr. David Roney (deceased)
Fr. John Murphy (deceased)
Fr. Michael Skoblik (deceased)
The parishes at which the alleged abuses took place have also been named in the claims. Below is a list of
the parishes named in the claims, the priest named, and the time period of the alleged abuse.
Church of the Holy Trinity, Winsted (Fr. Becker, 1964-1965)
Church of St. Francis, Benson (Fr. Roney, 1965-1967)
Church of St. Mary, Willmar (Fr. Roney, 1967-1968 and 1968-1970)
Church of St. Paul, Walnut Grove (Fr. Roney, 1959-1963 and 1960-1961)
Church of St. Joseph, Montevideo (Fr. Murphy, 1968)
Church of St. Catherine, Redwood Falls (Fr. Murphy, 1973-1974, 1974-1975, and 1978-1982)
Church of St. George (now the Church of St. Pius X), Glencoe (Fr. Skoblik, 1962-1965)
Church of St. Joseph (now the Church of the Holy Family), Silver Lake (Fr. Skoblik, 1964-1968)
A Notice of Claim is not a lawsuit; it is a notice stating the time, place, and circumstances of the alleged
abuse. Under Minnesota law, the eight parishes are independent religious corporations, as is the Diocese
of New Ulm.
Anyone who has suffered sexual abuse by a cleric of the Diocese of New Ulm should immediately report
such misconduct to local law enforcement. They are encouraged to contact the Victim Assistance
Coordinator or the Bishops Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct, 1421 6th Street North,
New Ulm, MN 56073, phone: 507-233-5313, for counseling or assistance, if that is desired.
MORE PAGE 2 OF 3
The diocese has been diligent in its efforts to establish a safe environment program that educates clergy,
diocesan and parish staff, teachers, parents, students, and volunteers who work with minors, and helps
them identify and prevent sexual misconduct. We are committed to offering help and healing to anyone
who has been a victim of sexual misconduct and to preventing this terrible crime from occurring in the
diocese.
The effects of sexual misconduct on the part of clergy are devastating and last a lifetime for those
abused, the Most Reverend John M. LeVoir, bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, stated in his October
2014 column of The Prairie Catholic. Please join me in working and praying for healing, reconciliation,
and hope in Jesus Christ, he said.
Fr. Becker was ordained in February 1962. His assignments included the following:
Church of St. James in Nassau, 1962
Church of the Holy Rosary in North Mankato, 1962-1963
Church of the Holy Trinity in Winsted, 1963-1966
Church of St. Mary in Cottonwood, 1966-1977 (offered one weekend Mass at the Campus
Religious Center at Southwest State University starting in 1976)
Church of St. Isidore in Clarkfield, 1969-1977
Church of St. Bridget in DeGraff, 1977
Churches of St. Francis in Benson, St. Bridget in DeGraff, and Our Lady of the Visitation in
Danvers, 1978-1987
Church of St. Anastasia in Hutchinson, 1987-1998
Church of St. Patrick in Kandiyohi and the Church of St. Thomas More in Lake Lillian, 1998-
2000.
Fr. Becker retired from active ministry on July 1, 2000.
Fr. Roney was ordained in August 1945. His assignments included the following:
Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, 1945-1952
Church of St. Francis in St. Croix Beach, 1952-1955
Church of St. John-Assumption in Faxon Township, 1955-1958
Church of St. Paul in Walnut Grove, 1958-1963
Church of St. Francis in Benson, 1963-1967
Church of St. Mary in Willmar, 1967-1980
Church of St. Gregory the Great in Lafayette, 1980-1993.
He also served as director of the diocesan San Lucas Mission Office and as director of the Office of the
Propagation of the Faith. Fr. Roney retired from active ministry in 1993. He died on Jan. 27, 2003, at the
age of 82.
Fr. Murphy was ordained in June 1951. His assignments included the following:
Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, 1951-1957
Church of St. Theresa in St. Paul, 1957
Church of St. Willibrord in Gibbon, 1957-1963
Church of St. John in Ortonville, 1963-1967
Church of St. Joseph in Montevideo, 1967-1971
MORE PAGE 3 OF 3
Church of St. Catherine in Redwood Falls, 1971-1981
Church of the Holy Rosary in North Mankato, 1981-1986
Church of St. Raphael in Springfield, 1986-1989
Church of St. Joseph in Lamberton, 1989
Church of St. John in Appleton and the Church of St. Joseph in Holloway, 1989-1991.
Fr. Murphy retired from active ministry in 1991. Between 1996 and 2000, he volunteered in ministry at
the Church of St. John in Little Canada. Fr. Murphy died on April 30, 2001, at the age of 74.
Fr. Skoblik was ordained in June 1939. His assignments included the following:
Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Montgomery, 1939-1946
Church of St. Wenceslaus in New Prague, 1946
Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Veseli, 1946-1947
Church of the Immaculate Conception in Lonsdale, 1947-1948
Church of St. Mary in Bechyn, 1948-1952
Church of St. George in Glencoe, 1952-1965
Church of St. Joseph in Silver Lake, 1965-1988.
Between March 1964 and August 1965 he served as superintendent of St. Pius X School in Glencoe. Fr.
Skoblik retired from active ministry in 1988. He died on Nov. 22, 1989, at the age of 79.
|