Saint Luke Institute, Priest Named in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

MINNESOTA
KAAL

By: Jennie Olson

There’s another lawsuit against the Catholic Church over more sexual abuse claims.

The lawsuit names the Order of St. Benedict/St. John’s Abbey, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Saint Luke Institute and Father Francis Hoefgen as defendants.

The lawsuit alleges the organizations allowed Father Hoefgen to work with children even after he admitted to police in 1984 that he sexually abused a minor.

Hoefgen, who was a member of St. John’s, was sent to Saint Luke Institute for an evaluation in 1984 and returned to ministry in 1985 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says he sexually abused a boy when he was there. The victim is a Minnesota man who is now in his 30s.

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