Fr. Roger Grundhaus

Monsignor, Vicar General. Retired in 2010. Publicly accused in 5/2017 of the sexual abuse in 1971 of a 16-year-old boy. The alleged victim, who was seeking to train as a deacon, said he told Bishop Hoeppner of the abuse in 2010. In 5/2017 the alleged victim sued Hoeppner and the Diocese, claiming Hoeppner told him to keep it quiet or he would not become a deacon and that his priest-son’s career would be harmed. Hoeppner had him sign a letter in 2015 rescinding the allegation. The man said he signed it to protect his son. The Diocese denied coercion and said they reported the allegations to law enforcement in 2011. The man’s attorney said Grundhaus’ name was not on a court-ordered list of accused priests given to his office in 10/2015. Grundhaus was suspended in 5/2017. The Diocese settled with the man in 9/2017; there was no admission of wrongdoing by Hoeppner, as a condition of the settlement. Another lawsuit naming Grundhaus settled 7/2019. In 9/2019 Grundhaus stated the incident occurred when the boy was 18, and was a misunderstanding. Hoeppner was forced to resign per the Pope’s Vos Estis Lux Mundi in 4/2021. In 3/2022 the Diocese announced that its review board determined that Hoeppner had “engaged in inappropriate activity….with a young man.” Prohibition from public ministry was to continue for a year, then the case was to be reviewed. In 4/2025 the Diocesan website shows Grundhaus as “Retired (On Leave from Public Ministry).”