Fr. James Thiel

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Order: CSsR
Ordained: 1971
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Louis MO

Living in Grand Rapids MI in 2004 when accused in a lawsuit of abuse of a middle-school boy 1978-81 at a parish in Pine Lawn, MO. Had resigned in 1994 from Grand Rapids High School in Grand Rapids MI after the Redemptorists informed the Grand Rapids dioceses of allegations that Thiel had abused in St. Louis. Faculties in the Grand Rapids diocese revoked. There were reportedly several confidential settlements related to allegations of abuse dating from the 1970s. The Redemptorists said they asked Thiel to leave the order in 1997. Another man sued in 2005, claiming abuse as a boy by Thiel 1974-79 and that the priest gave him a sexually transmitted disease. The 2004 suit settled in 3/07 for $140K. Three other priests were named in the settlement.


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