St. John’s University President Linked to Abbey Coverup

Posted on June 27, 2011
Posted in Bede Parry, Jeff Anderson, Robert Koopmann, Visiting Clergy/Professors, Visiting Monk/Priest

Many of the monks at St. John’s Abbey knew about Br. Parry’s misconduct. On one occasion, Fr. Bob Koopmann made a joke about “blowing a student” that was clearly directed at Br. Parry. – virtueonline.org

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More Lies from Abbey, Br. Paul Richards

Posted on June 24, 2011
Posted in Bede Parry, Jeff Anderson, Paul Richards

St. John’s Abbey spokesman, Brother Paul Richards, said abbey officials were just learning about the allegations.

He had no other comment.

 

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Former leader of boys choir at Missouri abbey admits sexual misconduct

Posted on June 23, 2011
Posted in Bede Parry, Jeff Anderson, Jerome Hanus, Jerome Thiesen, Pat Marker

And in 1981, the lawsuit says, Parry had sexual contact with a student at St. John’s in Minnesota. Parry admitted that misconduct to several people, including abbots at Conception and St. John’s, according to the lawsuit. Parry stayed at St. John’s until he graduated but was required to undergo psychological treatment, the lawsuit says.

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Missouri abbey faces suit; former St. Cloud bishop accused of abuse cover-up

Posted on June 23, 2011
Posted in Bede Parry, Jeff Anderson, Jerome Hanus, Jerome Thiesen

It also alleges he admitted a relationship with a student in 1981 while he was at St. John’s. Parry admitted the sexual misconduct to Theisen and two other monks at St. John’s, the lawsuit claims. Parry was allowed to remain at St. John’s until he graduated in 1982, the lawsuit states, but as a condition he was required to receive psychological treatment.

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Lawsuit alleges abuse of boys by monk at Conception Abbey

Posted on June 23, 2011
Posted in Bede Parry, Jeff Anderson, Jerome Hanus, Jerome Thiesen

Between 1973 and 1979, the lawsuit says, Parry told Hanus that he had been involved in three inappropriate sexual relationships. And in 1981, the lawsuit says, Parry had sexual contact with a student at St. John’s in Minnesota. Parry admitted that misconduct to several people, including the St. John’s abbot and Hanus, according to the lawsuit.

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Saint John’s Boys’ Choir Hosted by Conception Abbey, Fr. Parry

Posted on June 23, 2011
Posted in Bede Parry, Paul Richards
[Webmaster’s Note: In July of 1987, Br. Paul Richards took the St. John’s Boys’ Choir to Conception Abbey in Missouri where the members performed and stayed overnight. The director of the Conception Abbey Boy Choir at the time was Fr. Bede Parry. The approval of Conception Abbey as a destination is an odd one, considering that many of the monks at St. John’s were familiar with Fr. Parry’s misconduct involving a St. John’s student in 1981, when he was known as Br. Bede Parry.]

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Conception, Missouri Abbey Faces Lawsuit

Posted on June 23, 2011
Posted in Bede Parry, Jeff Anderson, Jerome Hanus, Jerome Thiesen

In addition, in 1981, while attending classes at St. John’s School of Theology in Collegeville, Minnesota he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student and admitted the sexual misconduct to St. John’s Abbot Jerome Theisen and two other monks at St. John’s, as well as Abbot Hanus at the Abbey. Yet, in total disregard for the safety of children, these officials turned a blind eye to Parry’s sexual misconduct.

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SNAP Media Advisory… Visiting Monk at St. John’s Named

Posted on June 23, 2011
Posted in Bede Parry

Between 1979 and 1982, Parry studied at St. John’s University and lived among monks at the controversy-ridden St. John’s Abbey, another Benedictine facility, near St. Cloud Minnesota where at least 18 proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics lived and worked. (A number of them still live at the facility). He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1983 and joined the Episcopalian priesthood in 2004.

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An Update from Abbot John Klassen

Posted on June 22, 2011
Posted in ISTI, Jerome Thiesen, John Klassen, PR Machine, Timothy Kelly
[Webmaster’s Note: Abbot John Klassen is deliberately misleading the Saint John’s community with this latest update regarding Abbot Timothy Kelly. ISTI was, and continues to be, a public relations tool created by Saint John’s in the wake of numerous allegations of misconduct by monks, visiting monks, and lay employees. Abbot John Klassen [ View ], like Abbot Timothy Kelly [ View ] and Jerome Theisen [ View ] before him, has continued the practice of covering up abuse by members of the community. Abbot Klassen refuses to disclose the true extent of the problem of misconduct — or the effect that abuse has, and continues to have, on victims. ]

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Regarding Abbot Timothy Kelly

Posted on June 21, 2011
Posted in Dan Ward, Douglas Nowicki, Francisco Schulte, Thomas Gillespie, Timothy Kelly, Tom Andert

Abbot Timothy Kelly has been accused of engaging in sexual misconduct with an altar boy (and at least four others) at St. Anselm’s Parish in Bronx, New York in 1966 and 1967.  Father Timothy Kelly later became Abbot of St. John’s Abbey and President of the American-Cassinese Congregation. Abbot Kelly’s background, the complaint and other links are available below.

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Onetime priest crusades for abuse victims suing Catholic Church

Posted on June 19, 2011
Posted in Bahamas, Jeff Anderson, Jerome Thiesen, John Klassen, Patrick Wall, Paul Richards, Timothy Kelly

(CNN) – As a young man studying for the priesthood, Patrick Wall imagined life as a professor and football coach at a Catholic university. It didn’t work out that way. Two decades later, Wall has not only left the Catholic Church, he has become one of its most tireless opponents.

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Photos of Sister Ann Marie Biermaier

Posted on June 18, 2011
Posted in Ann Marie Biermaier, St. Ben's

Three photos of Sister Ann Marie Biermaier, O.S.B. from Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minnesota (USA).

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St. John’s Abbot Responds to Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Posted on June 16, 2011
Posted in Jeff Anderson, John Klassen, Richard Sipe, Timothy Kelly

(St. Joseph Newsleader) In a statement released on the St. John’s Abbey website last week, Abbot John Klassen said he and other members of the abbey were “shocked” to hear allegations that former Abbot Timothy Kelly, who died last fall, had possibly been a perpetrator of sexual abuse.

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Alum: No Support for Saint John’s

Posted on June 15, 2011
Posted in Michael Cummings, PR Machine, Withholding Donations

We have stopped giving to St. John’s because of the ongoing abuse scandal there. I realize that the administration has claimed that everything has been handled but that is not the case.

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SNAP’s Video of Abbot Timothy Kelly Press Conference (Video)

Posted on June 11, 2011
Posted in Jeff Anderson, Patrick Wall, Richard Sipe, SNAP, Timothy Kelly

Witness the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth as A.W. Richard Sipe and Patrick J. Wall, both former Benedictine monks and now recognized world-renowned experts on clergy sexual abuse, return home to Minnesota in support of survivors of sexual abuse by a former Abbot of St. John’s Abbey. – Bob Schwiderski, MN SNAP

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Phillips and St. John’s Boys’ Choir

Posted on June 10, 2011
Posted in Jim Phillips, Opinion

This is absolutely crazy! None of these Priests, Monks, Brothers, Abbots, etc, are ever held accountable. I don’t get it! I saw a Brother (Jim Phillips) in the St. John’s Abbey just the other night attending the St. John’s Boys Choir concert. He has been accused SEVERAL times of sexually abusing young boys and there he was, unsupervised, watching 50+ little boys singing. Can ANYTHING be done to keep these known abusers away from children?

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Klassen releases statement about sexual abuse claim against former abbot

Posted on June 9, 2011
Posted in Jeff Anderson, John Klassen, Patrick Wall, Richard Sipe, Timothy Kelly

“Contrary to Abbot Klassen’s accusations in his statement, we (filed the lawsuit) only because Saint John’s had already been made aware of the charges nearly six months ago and failed to investigate it, respond to it, or disclose it,” Anderson’s statement read.

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Jeff Anderson Responds to St. John’s Abbot

Posted on June 9, 2011
Posted in Jeff Anderson, John Klassen, Richard Sipe, SG, Timothy Kelly

Having just read the statement [ View ]  released today by Abbot John Klassen on behalf of the Abbey of Saint John’s, I am alarmed and deeply sad.

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Statement from Abbot John Klassen Regarding Timothy Kelly

Posted on June 9, 2011
Posted in BS, John Klassen, Timothy Kelly

Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are morally reprehensible.  Saint John’s Abbey works honestly and openly with victims of sexual abuse and their attorneys to do all we can to correct the grievous wrongs that have been committed in the past by some members of our community.  The Saint John’s monastic community continues to extend prayers to all survivors of abuse.

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Vatican Alerted to Timothy Kelly’s Misconduct in March

Posted on June 7, 2011
Posted in Dan Ward, John Klassen, Pat Marker, Review Board, Timothy Kelly

“As we discussed, I believe that misconduct by men such as Father Dan Ward and Abbot Timothy Kelly as perpetrators, and perhaps even more as concealers of misconduct perpetrated by others, have destroyed the integrity of the institution and the lives of far too many innocent, good people.” – Patrick Marker to Vatican Officials

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