COLLEGEVILLE – A member of the external review board formed as part of St. John’s Abbey’s response to allegations of sexual misconduct has resigned in protest of what he said was a delay in publicly disclosing accusations of sexual abuse.
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\nToday, Pat Marker quit the nine-member board that meets monthly and reports on issues ranging from assessment and supervision of offenders to assistance for victims.<\/p>\n
On July 28, the Collegeville abbey publicized allegations of sexual misconduct in the 1970s and 1980s made against three of its monks, one of whom is deceased.<\/p>\n
Allegations against the Rev. Michael Bik, 57, were made six years ago, in 1997, and involved accusations he abused two teen-age boys in the 1970s – before he joined the Catholic abbey and before his ordination.<\/p>\n
“It’s taken far too long … and my biggest worry is that since we first found out about Bik, on the board, somebody’s been hurt since,” Marker said.<\/p>\n
The 41-year-old Internet consultant from Mount Vernon, Wash., has flown to Minnesota monthly since he joined the board three years ago.<\/p>\n
“The fact that I’ve been accused of being part of the problem by a caller who asked me why it took so long to come clean makes me feel I need to step down,” Marker said.<\/p>\n
The Rev. William Skudlarek, abbey spokesman, declined to comment on Marker’s resignation because he said he was not aware of it until contacted by the St. Cloud Times.<\/p>\n
Bik worked at St. John’s Preparatory School for five years after the accusation was made. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a national advocacy group victims of clergy molestation, called that “reprehensible.”<\/p>\n
Bik, 57, and the Rev. Bruce Wollmering, 65, who also worked at the school, live at the monastery but now work under restrictions. Neither could be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
“It’s a religious community … but one that is as political as any organization that I’ve ever been a part of,” said Marker, a St. John’s clergy molestation victim himself.<\/p>\n
“My plea is for the abbot to immediately contact alumni from the prep school and the university with a personal letter,” Marker said.<\/p>\n
Accusations against the late Rev. Robert Blumeyer were made in September and involved a teen-age boy he knew when he was an assistant pastor at a Wayzata parish in 1969.<\/p>\n
Latest news: Member of abbey review board resigns in protest
\nBy Frank Lee fclee@stcloudtimes.com
\nAugust 18. 2006 6:13PM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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