St. John’s Abbey is asking those who have been victimized by a former St. Cloud pastor to come forward after last year’s revelations of sexual abuse in the St. Cloud diocese.
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\nIn September, a 50-year-old man claimed he was abused by the late Rev. Robert Blumeyer, a priest of the St. John’s monastic community who died Oct. 5, 1983.<\/p>\n
“The abbot (John Klassen) does not know, at this point, of any other allegations of abuse against Father Blumeyer,” said the Rev. William Skudlarek, abbey spokesman.<\/p>\n
The abuse began in 1969 when the victim was 13 and Blumeyer was an assistant pastor at St. Bartholomew Parish in Wayzata, according to a statement the abbey released.<\/p>\n
The abuse continued for almost a decade while Blumeyer served in pastoral roles at parishes in Hastings and Avon, but it wasn’t until last year that the victim came forward.<\/p>\n
“I guess what’s been observed in cases like this is that a victim will come forward when they are ready to come forward,” Skudlarek said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Blumeyer also served as assistant pastor at the Church of St. Augustine in St. Cloud from 1965-68 before the Iowa native died of a heart attack at the age of 61.<\/p>\n
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have paid for the victim’s therapy. He also accepted a financial settlement from St. John’s Abbey and the archdiocese.<\/p>\n
“I think his report was deemed credible simply because there was a correlation between the events he gave and the times and places where the father served,” Skudlarek said.<\/p>\n
“However, it’s not to be taken as an admission of some ‘dereliction of duty’ by the abbey.”<\/p>\n
Klassen urges those who have been abused or know someone who has been abused to call Gary Schoener, victim advocate for St. John’s Abbey, at (612) 870-0565.<\/p>\n
“We are providing an opportunity for a victim to go to a neutral place a professional counselor who knows how to listen and respond properly,” Skudlarek said.<\/p>\n
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was among the dioceses that did not meet child-protection guidelines, according to an audit by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that was released in March.<\/p>\n
Work history<\/p>\n
Robert Blumeyer was born June 11, 1922, in Boyden, Iowa, before he was ordained a priest May 19, 1956.<\/p>\n
He spent 27 years in pastoral ministry and served at the following parishes before he died of a heart attack Oct. 5, 1983:<\/p>\n
\u2014 St. Boniface Church, Hastings, 1956-65, assistant pastor.<\/p>\n
\u2014 St. Augustine Church, St. Cloud, 1965-68, assistant pastor.<\/p>\n
\u2014 St. Benedict Church, Bronx, N.Y., 1968-69, assistant pastor.<\/p>\n
\u2014 St. Bartholomew’s Church, Wayzata, 1969-72, assistant pastor and pastor, 1972-73.<\/p>\n
\u2014 St. Boniface Church, Hastings, 1973-78, pastor.<\/p>\n
\u2014 St. Benedict Church, Avon, 1978-82, pastor.<\/p>\n
\u2014 St. Catherine Church, Farming, 1982-83, pastor.<\/p>\n
Source: St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville<\/p>\n
Abbey: Please Report Abuse
\nBy Frank Lee
\nSt. Cloud Times (Minnesota)
\nMay 25, 2006<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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