Category Archives: Donald Kettler

2,000 Area Students On Campus in Collegeville

COLLEGEVILLE — About 2,000 students from Catholic schools throughout Central Minnesota are expected to attend a noon Mass on Wednesday officiated by St. Cloud Diocese Bishop Donald Kettler at the St. John the Baptist Abbey Church. The mass is part of Catholic Schools … Continue reading

Rev. Dan Ward Confronted After Presentation (Transcribed)

On Sunday, January 24, 2016, Father Dan Ward gave a presentation (via Skype) to an audience of 50-75 people on the campus of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. One of Father Ward’s alleged victims attended. Father Ward admitted to the audience that he met … Continue reading

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.”

Diocese Perp Taught at Prep School

In January of 2014, Bishop Donald Kettler released the names of 33 clergy from the Diocese of Saint Cloud “who were likely involved in the sexual abuse of minors.” The list included Msgr. Vincent Yzermanns. [Link] Yzermans taught at the Prep School in the … Continue reading

(SC Times) St. John’s should release all Backous files

The St. Cloud Times reported June 11 that the ex-headmaster of St. John’s Preparatory School was accused of sexual abuse. “The allegations of inappropriate contact by the Rev. Timothy Backous surfaced in a letter sent May 31 by Chris and … Continue reading

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

2200 Local Students To Attend Mass in Collegeville

Saint John’s Prep is hosting 2,200 students from area Catholic schools on Wednesday, January 28 at noon in the Abbey Church. Bishop Donald Kettler and Abbot John Klassen, OSB will celebrate the mass with pastors from local parishes. We appreciate … Continue reading

Abuse survivors name St. John’s Abbey in nuisance claim

(KARE 11) ST. PAUL, Minn. — A group of clergy abuse survivors Thursday filed a public nuisance lawsuit against St. John’s Abbey and the Diocese of St. Cloud, claiming those organizations aren’t doing enough to police priests who’ve been credibly … Continue reading

New suits seek information on abusive priests in St. Cloud area

(MPR) St. John’s did not name the other five at that time, and it is not clear if they are among the names on the list released in December. St. John’s officials have declined to explain the discrepancy.

St. Paul, Collegeville priests sex abuse alleged in new lawsuits

(Pioneer Press) St. John’s Abbey and two clerics — one who worked at the Church of St. Bernard in St. Paul — were sued Thursday by men claiming they suffered sexual abuse as children.

Victim sues Abbey, Diocese for its handling of abuse allegations

(SC Times) ST. PAUL – A lawsuit filed Thursday in Stearns County District Court accuses St. John’s Abbey and the Diocese of St. Cloud of creating a public nuisance with their handling of clergy sex abuse allegations against their priests … Continue reading

Regarding VAC Roxanne Storms

If you have experienced less than professional conduct by Saint Cloud Diocese Victim Assistance Coordinator Roxann Storms, please consider sharing your story.

Letter from Victim’s Parents Regarding Father Tim Backous

May 31, 2014 Most Reverend John Neinstedt D.D., S.T.D. Office of the Archbishop 266 Summit Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55102

St. John’s Abbey monk moves to stop release of deposition

(Pioneer Press) The Rev. Allen Tarlton, a monk with St. John’s Abbey accused of sexually abusing minor students, filed an emergency court order Sunday to bar release of his deposition.

St. Cloud bishop, abbey abbot: We named all alleged abusers

The St. Cloud diocese and St. John’s Abbey have made public all of the names of priests and monks who have credible allegations against them of sexual misconduct with minors, according to the leaders of both institutions.

The Silence

Since 2002 [Bishop Donald Kettler] has served as bishop under the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks. As part of the diocese’s legal settlement with sexual abuse survivors, Kettler traveled to the villages of St. Michael and Stebbins in December 2010 to … Continue reading

Newly appointed St. Cloud bishop spent years in Alaska dealing with past clergy abuse

A bishop who has spent recent years in Alaska dealing with the repercussions of decades-old clergy sexual abuse has been appointed to lead the Diocese of St. Cloud.

New leader of St. Cloud diocese feels he’s coming home

Kettler occasionally visited St. John’s seminary, where he met Abbot John Klassen of St. John’s Abbey “on a number of occasions.” Klassen finds Kettler “open, flexible, pastoral.” They’d talk about faith, but also about the “very down-to-earth, practical realities” of … Continue reading

New Bishop Kettler happy to be back in Minnesota

The new bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud told the media and diocese employees at a news conference Friday morning that he is happy to be back in Minnesota.