Files of 5 Central Minn. Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse Released

By Rebecca Omastiak
KSTP
November 24, 2015

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3973328.shtml

The files of five priests accused of sexually abusing children were released Tuesday.

The priests — Richard Eckroth, Thomas Gillespie, Francis Hoefgen, Finian McDonald and Bruce Wollmering — are associated with Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville.

The files allege the priests used their positions to exploit Saint John’s University students and children in nearby areas.

The law office Jeff Anderson & Associates held a news conference in St. Paul Tuesday regarding the release of the files.

Attorney Jeff Anderson encouraged survivors of the alleged abuse to come forward before the May 25, 2016, deadline under the Minnesota Child Victims Act.