MINNESOTA
Winona Daily News
By Jerome Christenson
Allegations of sexual abuse by a priest employed by the Diocese of Winona more than five decades ago have been made public by the Diocese and St. Mary’s Parish in Winona.
In a letter to parishioners dated Dec. 4, Rev. Jim Berning wrote that “… the Church of St. Mary’s has been named as a defendant with the Diocese of Winona in a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse in 1962 by Fr. Richard Hatch, a deceased priest of the Diocese of Winona.”
The plaintiff in the suit has not been identified.
A statement by the diocese released Friday confirmed Berning’s letter and noted that Hatch was among the priests who were named publicly as “credibly accused” of sexual abuse two years ago and whose personnel files were made public in October 2014. Those names and files were released as part of the settlement agreement that concluded a suit brought against the Winona diocese and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
In a prepared statement, Winona Bishop John Quinn said, “We are committed to address all allegations of sexual abuse and will work in full cooperation as this process unfolds.”
Vicar general Richard Colletti said the bishop will be at St. Mary’s Sunday to pray with parishioners and reassure them that he and the diocese would stand with them.
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