Category Archives: Finian McDonald

Rev. Finian McDonald’s Obituary: More Deception

“The walkers that Rev. Finian McDonald “startled” while riding his bike around the Central Minnesota campus had it easy compared to the children and young adults that McDonald sexually assaulted as he taught, perfected, counseled and otherwise pretended to be a man of God — while his brothers and colleagues who … Continue reading

Abbey Releases Files of 18 Offenders (View Here)

On January 19, 2016, Abbot John Klassen and Saint John’s Abbey released and made available to the public the files of eighteen monk offenders.

Priests Files (PDFs) from the November 2015 File Release

*** Rev. Richard Eckroth Timeline  |  Key Documents  |  File 1  |  File 2  |  File 3 *** Rev. Thomas Gillespie Timeline  |  Key Documents  |  File 1 *** Rev. Francis Hoefgen Timeline  |  Key Documents  |  File 1 *** Rev. Finian McDonald Timeline  |  Key Documents  |  File 1  | … Continue reading

Sex offending monks have no contact with students … or do they?

“Hmmm … if the 6th though 12th graders at [Saint John’s Preparatory School]  want to get something to eat or attend Mass, how do they avoid all of those pesky sex-offending monks in the Monastic Residence?” – Joelle Casteix

Vatican thwarts review boards, documents show

(Worthy Adversary) Everything the bishops have been led you to believe about the independent power of lay review boards is deliberately misleading.

St. John’s Abbey monk accused of abuse reports 200 sexual encounters

(Star Tribune) One priest reported 200 sexual encounters, including some with students at St. John’s University and prep school. Another recorded the names of dozens of boys he brought to a cabin, some of whom he sexually abused. Another abuser … Continue reading

Settlement sparks release of monk files

(SC Times) ST. PAUL — The personnel files of five St. John’s Abbey monks were released Tuesday as part of the settlement of a lawsuit against the abbey and one of its monks.

Secret files on St. John’s Abbey monks show hundreds of possible victims

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – Brand new, once-secret files on 19 monks from St. John’s Abbey show they may have abused hundreds of children. Attorney Jeff Anderson released the files of 5 of those monks Tuesday, saying time is running … Continue reading

St. John’s Abbey monk accused of abuse reports 200-plus sexual encounters

(StarTribune) The first batch of personnel files on monks accused of sex abuse at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville were released Tuesday, in which a former counselor and dormitory prefect at St. John’s University reported having 200 sexual encounters — … Continue reading

Media Advisory: McDonald, Wollmering, Eckroth, Gillespie, Hoefgen Files

Release the files of five St. John’s monks accused of sexually abusing children.

Tracking the Public Lists

Since 2002, twenty-three members (see chart, below) of the Saint John’s monastic community have been publicly listed as having credible allegations of misconduct.

Media Advisory: Abuse Survivor and Attorneys Announce Breakthrough Settlement Involving St. John’s Abbey

“The credit for achieving this groundbreaking settlement rests with Doe 2, for having the courage to find his voice, stand up for truth and demand transparency with accountability,” said Jeff Anderson, one of Doe 2’s attorneys.

Letter to Kettler: Warning to Area Students

Bishop Kettler, In 2011, one of Father Tom Andert’s victims referred to the “horrible culture of hypocrisy” at Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville. During several conversations, including his visit to Minnesota after Andert’s appointment in 2007, I heard his pain. Last … Continue reading

The List

The List: 104 Credibly Accused Tracking the Public Lists Since the 1930s, fifty-eight (58) monks and thirteen (13) other members of the Saint John’s community have been credibly accused of sexual abuse and/or other misconduct. Another thirty-two (32) individuals with strong ties to St. John’s have … Continue reading

St. John’s Covered Up Abuse by Visiting Monk

Br. Bede Parry from Conception Abbey in Missouri attended the St. John’s University School of Theology between 1979 and 1982. During his second year, Br. Parry pursued a college freshman, twenty years his junior, who was interested in music and … Continue reading

Abbey: Nine Child Sex Offenders in Collegeville

On December 9, 2013, Saint John’s Abbey released the names of eighteen current and former monks who “likely have offended against minors” [ View ]. The abbey’s list includes nine monks who currently live at the Benedictine monastery in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Official Statement of December 9, 2013

Official Statement of December 9, 2013 Release of Names of Monks Who Likely Have Offended Against Minors

St. John’s Abbey issues list of clergy ‘likely’ to have abused minors

(SC Times) COLLEGEVILLE — St. John’s Abbey released a list Monday of 18 monks and priests who it believes “likely have offended against minors.”

Father Finian McDonald’s Thrifty Scot Ad

Students from the Twin Cities area who read the Sept. 7th issue of Time may have been pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face among the pages of America’s most widely read news magazine. Sporting a suit coat and tie, … Continue reading

Regarding Dr. Anthony Tabor

Doctor Anthony Tabor worked in the Saint John’s University Psychology Department with Father Bruce Wollmering and Father Finian McDonald from 1967 until 1976. The three men worked as counselors for numerous students in Collegeville.