MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio

Madeleine Baran
Jan 12, 2015

Internal archdiocese documents released Monday by a clergy sex abuse attorney claim former University of St. Thomas president Dennis Dease knew of child sex abuse allegations against a Catholic Studies professor for several years.

The newly released documents contradict the university’s public statement last year that Dease and other top administrators did not know about the allegations against the Rev. Michael Keating until late 2013.

The timing is important because Keating was allowed to work closely with students at St. Thomas. In October 2013, MPR News reported a clergy review board had recommended Keating not mentor young people. But it wasn’t clear then if the archdiocese had passed along that recommendation to the University of St. Thomas. Last October, St. Thomas officials concluded that Dease and those who reported directly to him did not know of the accusations.

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