MN-- Victims blast abbey on new abuse case

For immediate release: Thursday, Aug. 20

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])

We’re saddened but not surprised that another St. John’s cleric is accused of child sex crimes. For decades, this Catholic school has been a hotbed of abuse and cover ups.

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/08/20/monastery-prior

And for years, the institution has postured as being “ahead of the curve” on abuse when in fact that’s a deceitful claim.

We hope that anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered assaults or cover ups by Fr. Tom Andert or any current or former St. John’s staff will call police and prosecutors immediately. That’s the only safe course of action – trusting in the independent, unbiased professionals in law enforcement.

We appeal particularly to those who used to work for or attend the school. We suspect dozens of these individuals have knowledge or suspicions that should be reported to secular authorities. We hope no one is naieve enough to report them to church figures.

Fr. Andert is the school’s second in command.

 (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected], [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])

 

Monastery prior steps aside pending investigation

By Madeleine Baran Aug 20, 2015 | MPR News 2013 - Updated: 3:07 p.m. | Posted: 1:34 p.m.

The prior of the monastery at Saint John's Abbey has stepped aside because of an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a former student at Saint John's Preparatory School, according to a spokesperson for the abbey in Collegeville, Minn.

The Rev. Tom Andert will  . . .

Read full article here


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