Since the “Meet the Monks” section [ View ] was launched in May, the 721 monk profiles have been viewed a total of 64,478 times.

The most “popular” monks in June and July:

1. Fr. Francisco Schulte (1479 Views)
2. Fr. Thomas Gillespie (1468)
3. Fr. Tom Andert (1367)

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At St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, several members of the Order of St. Benedict live under restrictions imposed by Abbot John Klassen. Some members faced with the possibility of restrictions have taken leaves from the order to consider whether they wish to remain members of the order. Klassen said in 2002 that as many as 15 monks or priests were on restriction at the abbey, including former Abbot John Eidenschink. Klassen last month declined an interview request from the Times to discuss the current state of the abbey and the monks on restriction.

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“We use the word “community” quite a bit in places like ours but forget its most elemental meaning – caring for each other.” – Blog Entry by Fr. Tim Backous, September 2, 2009

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Since the new “Meet the Monks” section [ Go There ] was launched earlier this month, visitors have viewed the 720 monk profiles a total of 21,563 times.

The most “popular” monks:

1. Br. Isaac Connolly (528 Views)
2. Fr. Michael Bik (476 Views)

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(Fox 9) ST. PAUL, Minn. – A man who says he was sexually abused by an instructor at St. John’s Preparatory School in Collegeville is filing a Ramsey County lawsuit against the school, the religious order of monks that runs it, and his alleged abuser.
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Between July, 1972 and April, 1990, the Abbot’s File on Father Dunstan Moorse contained 81 items. However, the file contained nothing between 1979 and 1983.

Here’s a breakdown:

1972-1978: 58 Items in 7 years (8.3 items per year)
1979-1983: 0 Items in 4 years (0.0 items per year)
1984-1990: 23 Items in 7 years (3.3 items per year)

By year:
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According to multiple sources, St. John’s Abbey’s offending monks:

- Br. Jim Phillips < - Sodomy; At least two victims
- Br. Andre Bennett <- Died 2007
- Fr. Cosmas Dahlheimer <- Died 2002
- Fr. Richard Eckroth
- Fr. John Eidenschink <- Died 2004
- Fr. Thomas Gillespie
- Fr. Brennan Maiers
- Fr. Finian McDonald
- Fr. Dunstan Moorse <- At least nine victims
- Fr. Allen Tarlton
- Br. Isaac Connelly
- Fr. Michael Bik
- Fr. Bruce Wollmering <- Died 2009
- Fr. Robert Blumeyer <- Died 1983
- Br. John Kelly <- In Twin Cities
- Fr. Francis Hoefgen <- In Twin Cities
- Fr. Francisco Schulte <- Fled to Rome in 1987 following abuse allegations. Taken off of restriction by Abbot John Klassen in 2003.
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Today (November 10, 2009) marks the seven year anniversary of Joshua Guimond’s disappearance from the St. John’s University campus in Collegeville, Minnesota.
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On October 2, 2002 the St. Cloud Times reported that a settlement agreement between St. John’s and several victims had been reached. Three days later, and one month before Joshua Guimond disappeared, another article appeared in the St. Cloud Times.
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Press Release [ View as PDF ]

October 29, 2009 Press Release – “Justice for Josh” March

* Joshua Guimond disappeared while at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN in 2002.
* November 7, 2009 is the inaugural “Justice for Josh” march and will take place at noon.
* St. John’s recently denied a request by the Guimond family to mark the anniversary with an on-campus walk to raise awareness, claiming such an event “would not be productive”.
* The seven year anniversary of Joshua’s disappearance is November 10th.
* Supporters will meet near St. John’s University at noon, followed by a march at the Stearns County Sheriff’s office at 2pm.
* Several facts and new information regarding Joshua’s disappearance will be made public during the event.
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Four restricted monks were featured (with photos) in the Winter 2008 issue of the Abbey Banner. View Banner Home

Their inclusion, especially in a feature story, contradicts Abbot Klassen’s previous statements regarding restricted monks and victim sensitivity. Link Soon.

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[Victim] is now 22 years old and his date of birth is [Date]. He went to St. Johns Prep School and graduated from there in June of 1986. In the beginning of his senior year he was having some concerns and difficulties about his father’s girlfriend and he wanted to talk to somebody about it and he went to see Father Dunstan.

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Dunstan Moorse, a monk with multiple allegations of abuse (including sodomy of a minor student) had his recipe included in the Newsletter of the Oblates of Saint John’s Abbey, Fall/Winter 2008/09.
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St. John’s Abbey Benedictine establishment at Collegeville, MN, the largest Benedictine monastery in the western world, adjacent to St. John’s University and St. John’s Preparatory School. At least 14 of the abbey’s nearly 200 monks have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct.
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Dunstan Moorse, a monk with almost a dozen victims, offers another recipe to the members of the Oblate program.
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From September, 2006:

Marker: “Extensive research shows more monks will be named and more victims will come forward”
Klassen: “That is totally an unfounded, false statement. I mean false”

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Monastic Liturgy Forum – Discusses Paschal Triduum: Forty-two monastic liturgists from across the US gathered at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, AR, August 17-20. Founded in 1988, this was the tenth national meeting of the Monastic Liturgy Forum.
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ST. PAUL – The state Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former St. John’s Preparatory School student who accused a St. John’s Abbey priest of sexual abuse.
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STATE OF MINNESOTA IN COURT OF APPEALS
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Accused clergy remain at St. John’s Abbey, schools Abbot releases information to end ‘culture of secrecy’ that aids abuse
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A Minneapolis man who accuses St. John’s Abbey of “harboring pedophiles” has filed a court action demanding the removal of 11 monks and priests from St. John’s property.
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ST. CLOUD, Minn. – A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former St. John’s Preparatory School student accusing a St. John’s Abbey priest of sexual abuse, saying it was filed too late.
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Collegeville – An apology, validation and a promise to ensure sexual abuse won’t happen to another child or adult. These, for many survivors of clergy sexual abuse, are far more important than financial settlement.
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Collegeville – St. John’s Abbey will create an external review board and pay an undisclosed amount to about a dozen victims of clergy sex abuse as part of a settlement announced Tuesday.

Victims, their attorney and abbey officials said the key to the unprecedented agreement is the abbey’s willingness to accept responsibility for past abuse and to work to prevent future abuse. They hailed the review board as a model for religious orders, dioceses and churches nationwide.
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One morning in 1995, when the guilt became too heavy, Bill Quenroe says, he steered his van into the garage, threw it into park and left the engine running. He had already written a note, and now he waited for the end.
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