Fr. Thomas S. Stitts

Ordained: 1962
Status: Settled

Died: 10/13/1985
Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, MN

Permanently removed from ministry in 1985; died the same year at age 50.  Two men filed lawsuits alleging they were molested by Stitts in the late 1960s and early 1970s at two separate churches. The Archdiocese received the lawsuits in 1/1993; the suits were not public until they were filed with the court in 1/1995. A new suit was filed in 3/2010 by four men claiming the Archdiocese knew of Stitts’ history before or during the time he was sexually abusing them. Two more suits were filed in 6/2010. Four brothers filed suit 11/15/2010. Another suit was filed 6/14/2013. Included on the Archdiocese’s list of credibly accused in 12/2013. There was an ongoing battle in court to obtain personnel files and other archdiocesan files. The files were released in 8/2014. The plaintiff in the 6/14/13 suit, whose mother attempted to report his abuse in 1971 but was turned away by the Archdiocese, reached a settlement 08/20/2014.

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