MINNESOTA
St. Cloud Times
Stephanie Dickrell , sdickrell@stcloudtimes.com Feb. 9, 2017
The Diocese of St. Cloud has set several listening sessions and a service of healing in response to claims of sexual abuse by clergy within the diocese.
Bishop Donald Kettler and other members of a diocesan response team will have 11 listening sessions at sites around the diocese.
The gatherings have three goals, according to a statement. First, the diocese wants to assure parishoners of Kettler’s support and assistance. Second, the diocese hopes to offer a process where sexual misconduct and other concerns can be voiced and discussed. Third, the diocese wants to give other victims the opportunity to come forward.
Kettler and his predecessor, Bishop John Kinney, have conducted similar sessions in the past in parishes where clergy accused of abuse have served.
The upcoming meetings are in response to 74 claims made against 31 clergy members under the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which allowed old claims to be addressed in courts if they were filed before May 2016. The sessions are for all parish communities where the accused clergy have served.
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