Fr. Jerome C. Kern

Ordained: 1966
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, MN

Kern abused a boy in 1977 in a seminary swimming pool. In 1993 the victim went to the the vicar general and learned that archdiocese had a file on Kern dating back to 1969, when he was accused of grabbing the genitals of two boys. Kern was transferred after the boys’ mothers complained. The man filed a lawsuit which later settled. Other accusers known. Kern was supposed to never to work in another parish, but he was an active parish priest until 2002 when he took medical disability leave. Sued in 11/13. In a 4/14 deposition, Kern denied that his actions constituted abuse but that it consisted of nonsexual horseplay, hugging and wrestling. Also said that the archdiocese never warned him he could go to jail for his actions and never disciplined him. Included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused.

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