Diocese of Duluth documents released

By Nick Minock
Northlands News Center
November 16, 2015

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/home/Diocese-of-Duluth-documents-released-350788701.html

Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.COM) --- There are new developments regarding the Diocese of Duluth and several of its former priests accused of molesting children.

The never before seen letters and documents detail the alleged sexual abuse by four former priests.

The four deceased priests were all part of the Diocese of Duluth at one time.

The documents have disturbing details from the past.

"When I came out about the priest in Proctor that molested me, I had several classmates call me up and say I thought I was the only one," Vern Wagner said.

Wagner stood by the law firm on Monday that is responsible for getting the Diocese of Duluth to release documents that outline years of alleged sexual abuse from four of their priests.

Some of the documents came out after the trial of Reverend Gregory Manning.

"This letter is a warning from the head of the treatment facility in New Mexico of Father Fitzgerald to the Diocese of Duluth in 1958, saying that these people are dangerous," Michael Finnegan said.

Finnegan works for Jeff Anderson and Associates.

Father Manning worked at several Diocese locations including: Chisholm, Duluth, St. John Evangelist, Floodwood, Warba, Biwabik, and the St. James Orphanage in Duluth.

"What he says... in the second paragraph is that he has a practice of taking these people in from the treatment facilities and giving them a chance here in the Diocese of Duluth.... To rehabilitate themselves," Finnegan said. "He says each time that has happened it turned out quite miserably."

The three other Duluth Diocese priests include Reverends Charles Gormly, Bernard Bissonnette, and Father Alfred Longley.

All are accused of the sexual abuse of children.

Jeff Anderson and Associates want the Duluth Dioceses to release information on the 27 other priests who they say are accused of sexual abuse.

Earlier this month a child sex abuse case against the Diocese of Duluth garnered an $8.1 million verdict for the abuse victim.

"The only way we seem to get their attention is by hurting them financially; to make them pay for their decision to protect these people," Wagner said.