Category Archives: Fran Hoefgen

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

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.

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.

Kettler to Address Some, Not All, Perps

According to the Diocese of St. Cloud web site [ View ] , “Bishop Donald Kettler will hold a series of listening sessions in August following allegations of sexual abuse committed by three priests of the diocese.”

Jury acquits ex-priest accused of sexual abuse in Hastings church

“Proving beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred 24-26 years ago without significant corroborating physical evidence of the crime itself is always a difficult task,” Backstrom said. “Without such corroborating evidence the jury must render its decision based primarily … Continue reading

Former Hastings priest to be tried this week in sex abuse case

A former Hastings priest accused of sexual abuse 25 years ago is set to go on trial this week.

Police search St. John’s Abbey for Hoefgen files

An investigator from the Hastings Police Department served a search warrant last week at St. John’s Abbey in connection with the prosecution of former abbey monk Fran Hoefgen.

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.

Archdiocese list includes St. John’s Abbey monks

(SC Times) One name added to that list this week is Michael Bik, a former monk from St. John’s Abbey. Bik’s name appeared previously on a list of abbey monks with substantiated allegations of abuse against them. Bik was permanently … Continue reading

Former priest pleads not guilty to abusing Hastings altar boy

A priest accused of repeatedly raping a Hastings altar boy in the late 1980s and early ’90s pleaded not guilty in a Dakota County courtroom Friday.

Hoefgen at Archdiocesan Rectory in 2005

Last week, we received a tip from a former parishioner that admitted child molester Fran Hoefgen lived with Father David Ostrowski at the Church of the Holy Cross rectory in Minneapolis around 2005.  In 2005, Fran Hoefgen was still a priest … Continue reading

Former Hastings priest charged with raping altar boy for years

(StarTribune) A onetime priest at a Catholic parish in Hastings was charged Wednesday with repeatedly sexually abusing an altar boy in the late 1980s and into early 1990s, acts that allegedly occurred after he was removed from a central Minnesota … Continue reading

Former St. John’s Abbey monk accused of abusing boy

(SC Times) A former St. John’s Abbey monk who then served St. Cloud diocese as a priest was charged Wednesday in Dakota County, accused of sexually abusing an altar boy in Hastings.

Flashback: Hoefgen “Not a Pedophile”

According to archdiocesan priest Rev. David Ostrowski, former Saint John’s priest Fran Hoefgen is “not a pedophile.” Rev. David Ostrowski and Fran Hoefgen live together in Columbia Heights.

Minnesota priest charged with sexual assault of altar boy from 1989-91

(KMSP / Fox 9) – Former Rev. Francis Hoefgen was charged Wednesday in Dakota County with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with allegations he sexually abused a former altar boy.

Former Saint John’s Abbot Proved Wrong

In an October, 31, 1992 letter to Rev. Kevin McDonough, Abbot Jerome Theisen from Saint John’s Abbey wrote: