MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 13
Statement by Frank Meuers of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 952-334-5180, frankameuers@gmail.com )
It’s time for students and staff at the University of St. Thomas to demand that wrongdoers are fired and a real investigation is launched into how much school officials knew about – and how little they did about – child sex abuse allegations against the popular, charismatic but predatory Fr. Michael Keating.
It’s time for St. Thomas alums to sit on their checkbooks until a real investigation happens
It’s time for parents of current students to demand real action. And it’s time for parents of prospective students to think long and hard about whether they want to send their teenagers to a university with a troubling track record on simple safety.
Finally, it’s time for every university staff who acted recklessly and deceitfully in the Fr. Keating matter to be fired.
Minnesota Public Radio reports that just-released archdiocese documents show that the university’s most recent ex-president, Dennis Dease, “knew of child sex abuse allegations against a Catholic Studies professor for several years” which contradicts the university’s claim last year that “Dease and other top administrators did not know about the allegations against the Rev. Michael Keating until late 2013.”
Then, the most alarming part: “The timing is important because Keating was allowed to work closely with students at St. Thomas.”
Some will now say that the university should release a full copy of the alleged investigation into this matter which essentially cleared any school officials of wrongdoing. That would be a tiny step forward. A new, truly independent investigation, however, would be better.
On the other hand, the evidence that has already surfaced showing the university’s deceit is already very clear and strong:
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