MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
By Emily Gurnon
egurnon@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 05/19/2014
A monk who taught at St. John’s University and seminary from the 1950s to the 1970s has been sued by two Minnesota men who claim he sexually abused them at a cabin owned by St. John’s Abbey.
Richard Eckroth, a member of the Benedictine Order who is also a priest, abused more than 360 of what he referred to as his “cabin kids,” said Jeff Anderson, attorney for the two men who filed suit Monday in Stearns County.
Eckroth, now 87, has advanced dementia and lives at St. John’s Abbey “under close monitoring,” according to abbey spokesman Brother Aelred Senna.
“St. John’s Abbey was made aware of these allegations against Fr. Richard Eckroth late last week,” the abbey said in a written statement released Monday. “Sorting out the truth of allegations against Fr. Eckroth is complicated by his advanced dementia. … Incidents involving Eckroth are alleged to have occurred more than 40 years ago. While there have been credible claims of inappropriate behavior by Eckroth, there has also been conflicting testimony regarding allegations against him.”
The abbey, which also is a defendant in the lawsuit, said it would “cooperate to seek the truth as we have in the past.”
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