With Diocese of New Ulm Accused Priest Disclosures: Why Not More Names?

By Mike Bryant
Legal Examiner
March 16, 2015

http://minneapolis.legalexaminer.com/property-owners-liability-slip-fall/with-diocese-of-new-ulm-accused-priest-disclosures-why-not-more-names/

This past week, the Diocese of New Ulm disclosed 4 names of accused priests. The new names are really not new. They are names that they should have known earlier and that they should have disclosed. I found it interesting to look at the names that are not on their list.

– We know that the diocese, headed by Bishop John Nienstedt in 2004, had identified 12 priests accused of sexual misconduct with children in a report to U.S. Catholic Bishops. These are the lists of the credibly accused that the other Diocese in the state have disclosed.

Diocese of Winona Release Their List of 14 Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Release Their List of 34 Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

The Diocese of St Cloud Release Their List of 33 Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

St. John’s Abbey Release Their List of 18 Monks and Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

The Diocese of Duluth Release Their List of 17 Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

The Diocese of Crookston Release Their List of 6 Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

New Ulm has not released their list.

– We know that there have been lawsuits against the Dioceses of New Ulm concerning at least two other Priests.

Father Francis Markey

Father William J. Marks

These are names where claims have been made and they aren’t on this new New Ulm list of the accused.

– We know that there was a list of 8 that came out of the deposition of Father Francis Garvey on January 24, 2014.

New Ulm Diocese Priests Accused of Sexual Misconduct

Father David A. Roney

Father Francis Markey

Father Vincent Fitzgerald

Father William J. Marks

Father Michael G. Skoblik

Father John L. Gleason

Father Douglas L. Schleisman

Father John M. Murphy

– Finally, looking at all of the disclosed lists there is an additional omission which is from the list of Archdioceses of Minneapolis and Saint Paul . Where is Robert Clark?

Robert Clark

Date of birth: 6/28/1958

Date of ordination: 2/18/1984

Clark is a priest of another diocese who is alleged to have committed acts of sexual abuse of a minor outside of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This archdiocese is not aware of any substantiated claim of sexual abuse of a minor asserted against Clark relating to any conduct that occurred in this archdiocese. Clark’s name has nevertheless been added to the archdiocese’s disclosure list in the interest of full transparency, to champion the Child Protection Protocols and Procedures first announced to the public on October 13, 2014 and to aid in healing for survivors who may reside in the archdiocese.

Clark’s assignment history:

Associate Pastor, Holy Redeemer, Marshall, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1984-1984

Associate Pastor, Holy Trinity, Winsted, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1984-1989

Associate Pastor, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1989-1990

Pastor, St. Anthony, Watkins, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1990-1993

Parochial Administrator, Our Lady, Manannah, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1992-1996

Pastor, St. Patrick, Kandiyohi, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1996-1997

Pastor, St. Thomas More, Lake Lillian, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1996-1997

Administrative leave, 1997

Religion Teacher, Saint Agnes High School, St. Paul, 1998-2002

Administrative leave, 2002

Diocese or religious order: Diocese of New Ulm

Date permanently removed from ministry: Removed from active ministry on March 26, 2002

Current location: Mesa, AZ

Current status: Resigned

Date the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis posted this individual’s name on a list of those with claims of substantiated abuse against them: October 23, 2014

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In total there are at least 12 names that should be on that list last week and very possibly more. These names have got to be disclosed.

Abuse of children and the continued silence by the offenders needs to be prevented. If you suffered, saw, or suspected such events, it is important to know that there is help out there.