MINNESOTA
Duluth News Tribune
By: Tom Olsen, Duluth News Tribune
The Diocese of Duluth’s decision to conduct a private investigation rather than contact authorities about child sexual abuse allegations against a former priest was “unacceptable,” St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin said Thursday.
Such delays hamper official investigations. But the county’s top prosecutor said he’s now satisfied that he and the diocese have put together an appropriate road map for future abuse reporting.
“The Diocese and I have agreed it is important for a representative of the Diocese to immediately advise any reporting victim of their right to contact law enforcement or social services through the Initial Intervention Unit at the time any allegation of sexual abuse by a priest is reported,” Rubin wrote in a letter issued Thursday.
After the Tuesday release of a list of former diocese priests deemed “credibly accused” of sexual abuse of minors, officials said they expected many previously unknown victims to come forward.
Verne Wagner, the northern Minnesota director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), said Thursday that he has already received several phone calls from victims who had not previously reported their abuse.
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