Category Archives: Thomas Gillespie

Eleven SJP Grads Among Monk Perpetrators

Among the 100+ accused perpetrators at St. John’s are eleven graduates of St. John’s Preparatory School: Fr. Angelo Zankl (SJP ’18) Abbot John Eidenschink (SJP ’31) Fr. Aloysius Michels (SJP ’30) Fr. Allen Tarlton (SJP ’46) Fr. Thomas Thole (SJP … Continue reading

29 Questions for Abbot John Klassen, OSB

A list of questions for the open forum “regarding sexual abuse” to be held at 3:00pm today on the campus of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

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

Released Files: Rev. Gillespie’s 1996 Removal from St. Joseph, Minnesota

Earlier today, files were released regarding Father Tom Gillespie’s 1996 removal from St. Joseph, Minnesota.

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.”

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.

It Can’t Happen Here

Anyone who was living in the Midwest in the fall of 1989 was familiar with the Jacob Wetterling kidnapping. The story was all over the news. There were newspaper articles, television news stories, posters, billboards, and buttons. Jacob was everywhere, … Continue reading

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

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

Files Released on Monday, May 19, 2014

The following files were released on Monday, May 19, 2014:

Suits allege St. John’s Abbey monk abused 2 ‘cabin kids’

(StarTribune) The clergy sex abuse lawsuit against the Twin Cities archdiocese headed northwest Monday, when documents related to child abuse by five monks at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minn., were released and a lawsuit was filed to pry open … Continue reading

Files to be Released on 5 Monks Accused of Sexual Abuse

More details are expected Monday about five monks from Saint John’s Abbey who are accused of sexually abusing children.

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

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.