BishopAccountability.org

New sex abuse lawsuits name Rochester Catholic Schools

By Mike Bunge
KIMT
April 17, 2016

http://kimt.com/2016/04/17/new-sex-abuse-lawsuits-name-rochester-catholic-schools/

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Rochester Catholic Schools has been named in 16 new sex abuse lawsuits.

The Diocese of Winona and certain Rochester parishes are also named in the lawsuits, which claim abuse by three men at Lourdes High School, St. Francis of Assisi School and St. Pius X School.  The abuse was allegedly committed from the early 1960s to mid 1970s by former priests Thomas Adamson and Joseph Cashman and by the now deceased Jack Krough in the mid 1980s.

“These lawsuits arise out of alleged sexual misconduct that occurred numerous decades ago – 30 to 50 years in the past,” said Michael Brennan, Director of Rochester Catholic Schools.  “In that sense these are not new claims and do not reflect the actions of the faithful men and women leading our parishes and schools today. Furthermore, it is imperative to emphasize and reiterate that the priests alleged of abuse are deceased or were removed from the priesthood through the laicization process.”

These lawsuits are being filed under the Child Victims Act.  It created a three-year window for survivors of childhood abuse to file in civil court.  That window will close on May 25, 2016.

“This news is difficult to hear on many levels and will undoubtedly take significant time to fully digest,” said Brennan.  “As we experience waves of differing emotions, it is essential that we, together as a faith community, remember to keep close to our hearts the victims involved. As a Catholic community, we must acknowledge past instances of abuse and encourage the dignified treatment of the many survivors who have come forward. We must never lose sight of the need for prayer, in the spirit of healing, for the painful and deep wounds experienced as a result of abuse.”




.


Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.