FARGO (ND)
inforum.com [Fargo ND]
July 2, 2021
Sullivan Middle School, part of the St. John Paul II Catholic Schools network, was named after Bishop Sullivan. Due to the allegations, Sullivan Middle School has been renamed Sacred Heart Middle School, the Fargo Diocese said.
FARGO — Accusations of sexual abuse of a minor against a former Fargo bishop have been deemed credible by Catholic officials, the Fargo Diocese said in a statement issued Friday, July 2.
The accusations are against the late Bishop James Sullivan, the sixth bishop of Fargo, who was previously a priest of the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan.
“The accusations allege the incidents took place several decades ago when Bishop Sullivan was a priest in the Lansing Diocese. There have been no allegations made against Bishop Sullivan during his time as Bishop of Fargo or after his retirement,” the Fargo Diocese said in its statement.
Sullivan died June 12, 2006, in Fargo.
Sullivan Middle School, part of the St. John Paul II Catholic Schools network, was named after Sullivan. Due to the allegations, Sullivan Middle School has been renamed Sacred Heart Middle School, the Fargo Diocese said Friday.
The Fargo Diocese said it learned from the Lansing Diocese that after an investigation, the allegations against Sullivan were deemed credible.
The Lansing Diocese added Sullivan’s name to its list of clergy with credible accusations of sexual abuse of a minor. And the Fargo Diocese added Sullivan’s name to its list of clergy who served or ever lived within the diocese who are on the list of another diocese or religious order.