MINNESOTA
Winona Post
By Chris Rogers
On Monday, the Diocese of Winona released the names of 14 diocesan priests “credibly accused” of sexual abuse, including a man still living in Winona and four other living men. A Ramsey County judge ordered the diocese to release the names earlier this month.
Bishop John M. Quinn issued a statement on Monday apologizing for “the insufferable harm to victims, their families, parishioners, and the Church” caused by accusations that diocesan priests sexually abused children and violated “the sacred trust placed in them.”
After four years of fighting for this disclosure, attorney Jeff Anderson said, “We believe that there are more that deserve to be known and exposed, but today we take this as a giant step forward.” Anderson’s firm specializes in clergy abuse cases and is representing an alleged victim in a suit that accuses the diocese of negligence in its response to past reports of abuse.
The diocese argued against publishing the names in court hearings last month, saying that it would condemn the men, who have never been convicted, without a fair trial. “We seek justice on all sides.” said Diocese of Winona Director of Mission Advancement Joel Hennessy in an interview this summer, pointing out that the deceased men named in the list have no way to defend themselves. Most of the priests are deceased. Four of the five others are ages 64, 79, 80, and 86, and the statute of limitations is believed to have passed on all of the allegations against them, precluding any criminal charges. Father Leo Koppala, 47, of Blue Earth, was charged with criminal sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl this summer and was placed on administrative leave pending the result of prosecution.
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