MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
By Emily Gurnon
egurnon@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 10/18/2013
The Twin Cities archdiocese was aware of allegations in 2006 that the Rev. Michael Keating had at best emotionally intense and at worst sexually abusive relationships with as many as four young women or girls, yet kept him in ministry during the course of its two-year internal investigation, according to memos from a high-ranking official.
A series of five memos obtained by Minnesota Public Radio details steps taken by the Rev. Kevin McDonough, then-vicar general of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in response to allegations about Keating.
The investigation appeared to begin when a young woman from Chisago County reported to McDonough and other officials that Keating had molested her when she was 13. McDonough said in a Feb. 2, 2006, memo to the archbishop that archdiocese officials had either turned the case over to law enforcement or were about to do so.
The Chisago County attorney’s office declined to file charges after a 2006 investigation.
The young woman filed suit Monday in Ramsey County District Court against Keating, alleging sexual battery. Keating, 57, took a leave as a religion professor at the University of St. Thomas. He has denied the allegations.
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