MINNESOTA
Winona Daily News
The Diocese of Winona on Friday for the first time released the names of two additional priests suspected of sexual abuse.
The names of Fathers Harold Mountain and Thomas Duane were released as part of the ongoing settlement agreement with the diocese and the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis. Both names have never been released to the public before. The two names bring to 17 the total list of diocese priests suspected of sexual abuse.
Neither priest is alive. Duane died in 1993, and Mountain in 2006. There were not abuse complaints filed against either when they were alive.
Joel Hennessy, speaking for the Diocese of Winona, said the release of was prompted by the receipt of new victim information by the diocese. “The priests did not meet the disclosure protocols prior to the new information,” Hennessy said.
“This is a good day for child protection,” said Patrick Wall, researcher for Anderson & Associates, the law firm representing the plaintiffs in the suit. “This is another forward step,” he said, “we are not done…there will be more priest files.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.