2 Lawsuits Accuse Number 2 Leader At St. John’s Abbey Of Abuse

WJON
April 12, 2016

http://wjon.com/2-lawsuits-accuse-number-2-leader-at-st-johns-abbey-of-abuse/

ST. CLOUD (AP) — Two lawsuits accuse the former prior of St. John’s Abbey of abusing two former prep school students in the 1970s and early 80s.

The lawsuits come after the abbey and its review board earlier this year cleared the Rev. Tom Andert, saying the allegations against him were unsubstantiated. Andert’s name has never been on the abbey’s list of those with credible allegations against them of the abuse of minors.

But Jeff Anderson, the lawyer representing the men suing Andert, said that abbey investigators never interviewed the victim in one of the lawsuits before declaring the allegations unsubstantiated.

The abbey issued a statement denying the allegations and saying it intends to defend both cases.

As prior, Andert held the No. 2 position at the abbey.