Saint John’s Abbey Releases Names of “Likely Offenders”

MINNESOTA
The Record

By Adam Tucker | December 9th, 2013

Saint John’s Abbey released a statement Monday voluntarily naming 18 monks that have “likely offended against minors”—most of whom have already been publically named. Nine of the names on the list reside at the Abbey under supervised plans, seven of the monks have deceased, and two of the monks—including Francis Hoefgen, who was indicted by a lawsuit filed on Nov. 19—have since left the clergy.

“We are including all 18 names to provide as complete of a list as we can to acknowledge the pain suffered by victims. This list underscores our commitment to being transparent in our policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse,” Abbey spokesperson Br. Aelred Senna said.

Attorney Jeff Anderson filed a lawsuit in November in Dakota County court that names the Abbey as a defendant for allegedly concealing or neglecting to fully disclose Hoefgen’s misconduct prior to his establishment at St. Boniface parish in Hastings in 1985. Today’s letter is the first list of names announced by the Abbey since they released a list of 17 names in 2011 as part of a different case.

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