BehindThePineCurtain.com | Abuse, Secrecy and Deception at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN

Victim recounts abuse at St. John’s Prep

Posted on June 6, 2013

Posted in Allen Tarlton, Jeff Anderson, Michael Bryant

I thought no one would have believed me. Now at the age of 50, I can finally stand up for myself and talk about what happened to me. By doing this, I hope others who have been abused as children will find the courage to talk about what happened to them. – Troy Bramlage

Abbey’s Response to Allegations Against Father Allen Tarlton

Posted on June 6, 2013

Posted in Allen Tarlton

We have been forthcoming and acknowledged the occasions when members of our community harmed others.

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Sauk Rapids man sues abbey, school, Benedictine order under new law

Posted on June 5, 2013

Posted in Allen Tarlton, Child Victims Act, Jeff Anderson, Michael Bryant

“I want kids to know that if they’ve been molested by priests, that they can come forward, and they need to get help,” he said. “If one person, one kid, comes out and gets help, then this will have been worth it.” – Troy Bramlage

Father Allen Tarlton Chronology

Posted on June 5, 2013

Posted in Allen Tarlton, John Klassen

Father Allen Tarlton aka “Father Gilbert” and “Huggy Bear”

Formal Complaints: Nine

St. John’s Abbey Lawsuit Coming (Tarlton)

Posted on June 4, 2013

Posted in Allen Tarlton, Child Victims Act, Jeff Anderson, Michael Bryant

At a news conference on Wednesday (June 5, 2013) in St. Cloud, MN prominent clergy abuse attorney Jeff Anderson will introduce the childhood sexual abuse survivor who is courageously brining suit against the Order of St. Benedict which includes St. John’s Abbey and St. John’s Preparatory School, along with Father Allen Tarlton, for abuse he endured while attending the prep school as a 14 year-old boy.

Memo: Dan Ward Stepping Down at RCRI

Posted on May 28, 2013

Posted in Dan Ward, Hertha Longo, RCRI

Webmaster’s Note: An email (below) sent earlier today announced that Father Dan Ward is stepping down as executive director of the RCRI. An investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Father Dan Ward [ View ] commenced in October of 2012 prompting one advocacy group to call for his resignation [ View ] and had another group requesting that Saint John’s issue warnings [ View ] and reach out to victims.]

Minnesota Child Victims Act Signed

Posted on May 24, 2013

Posted in Child Victims Act

Chapter 89: Relating to civil actions; changing the limitation period for civil actions involving sexual abuse; amending Minnesota Statutes.

New Minn. law allows more childhood abuse lawsuits

Posted on May 24, 2013

Posted in Child Victims Act, Jeff Anderson, Karen Bockelman, Mark Dayton, Ron Latz, Steve Simon

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Adults who suffered childhood sexual abuse and want to file lawsuits against both abusers and the institutions that employed them will have greater access to Minnesota’s court system under a bill awaiting Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature.

Former Albany pastor named St. John’s Prep Headmaster

Posted on May 15, 2013

Posted in Jonathan Licari

Saint John’s Prep School Board of Regents announced the selection of Fr. Jonathan Licari, OSB as the next Headmaster, preserving continuous monastic leadership since 1857.

New photo of Josh Guimond, still missing after 10 years

Posted on May 9, 2013

Posted in Joshua Guimond

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (KMSP/Fox) – Family and friends have not lost hope in the search for Josh Guimond, the St. John’s University student who was reported missing Nov. 10, 2002.

Police Release Age-Enhanced Photo of Missing College Student Josh Guimond

Posted on May 9, 2013

Posted in Joshua Guimond

(WJON) It was over ten years ago that St. John’s University college student Joshua Guimond was last seen leaving a party on campus to walk home to his campus apartment in Collegeville.

Licari Chosen as Next Headmaster at St. John’s Prep

Posted on May 2, 2013

Posted in Jonathan Licari, Marti Jacobs, Tim Backous

Fr. Jonathan Licari, OSB, has been chosen as the next headmaster for St. John’s Prep school.

Minnesota Child Victims Act Deserves Support

Posted on May 1, 2013

Posted in Child Victims Act, Jerry Sandusky

The Minnesota House could vote today on an overdue measure to allow victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to pursue justice through civil courts.

Protected: The Lone Ranger (Licari)

Posted on April 25, 2013

Posted in Jonathan Licari

Msgr. Jerome Boxleitner (Updated)

Posted on March 16, 2013

Posted in Harry Flynn, Jerome Boxleitner, John Nienstedt, John Roach, Kevin McDonough, Mike O'Connell

[Updated March 18, 2013 @ 11:01pm]

This past Sunday, I had a conversation with a victim of sexual abuse perpetrated by Msgr. Jerome Boxleitner. Boxleitner is not a monk from St. John’s but his name appears on this web site. Officials at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, including Archbishop John Roach, were provided with information about Boxleitner’s abuse beginning in 1989.

Father Dan Ward vs Cardinal O’Brien

Posted on March 3, 2013

Posted in Dan Ward, Jason Berry, Keith O'Brien

Father Dan Ward and Saint John’s Abbey could learn from Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

Backous Regarding Humility, Honesty

Posted on March 2, 2013

Posted in Tim Backous

In chapter seven of his Rule, Saint Benedict uses the Gospel of Matthew to concretize his teachings on humility: “In truth, those who are patient amid hardships and unjust treatment are fulfilling the Lord’s command: When struck on one cheek, they turn the other; when deprived of their coat, they offer their cloak also; when pressed into service for one mile, they go two” (RB 7.42 [Matt 5:39-41]). Surely these must be some of the most countercultural words ever spoken by Jesus. Society, even in its ancient form, is not built this way. Humility, then and now, is seen as weakness; it is for those who lack the stamina or the backbone to fight back.

Who is Father Dan Ward?

Posted on March 1, 2013

Posted in Dan Ward, Jason Berry, Pat Marker, Patrick Wall

(GlobalPost.com) Dan Ward is by any measure a complex man. The lawyer-priest righteously helps nuns on property matters and how to deal with a Vatican investigation.

Tip re Wollmering

Posted on February 21, 2013

Posted in Bruce Wollmering

Received the tip.

Investigators: In Feeney’s Words (Video)

Posted on February 18, 2013

Posted in Matthew Feeney

It’s already known that Feeney’s victims span decades — and possibly the country, but Feeney says he stayed away from teen boys in the years following three child sex abuse convictions in 1992. While he has repeatedly refused to give details about what he’s done in recent years, Feeney did make an admission that some of his actions were “definitely” inappropriate while he was being recorded in secret.

[Webmaster’s Note: Matthew Feeney is a 1991 graduate of Saint John’s University and was the Youth Group Minister at the Church of St. Joseph (with priests from St. John’s Abbey) in the early 1990s. The Church of Saint Joseph and its leadership, have been under fire lately for covering up allegations of sexual and other misconduct.]
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