ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) \u2014 Fighting through tears on Tuesday, Todd Belrose recounted 35 years of pain resulting from alleged clergy sex abuse by Father Thomas Andert.<\/p>\n
\u201cSadly, I just found out lately there are many more survivors, and as much as it breaks my heart, it also helps me,\u201d Belsore said.<\/p>\n
At a news conference announcing two newly-filed civil suits alleging priest sex abuse, Belrose and a former plaintiff said St. John\u2019s Preparatory School priests should have helped young boys, not hurt them.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, they helped all right,\u201d said abuse survivor Troy Bromlage. \u201cThey helped us drink more, use more and try to kill ourselves because we don\u2019t feel whole.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andert was never put on the list of 18 credibly accused abbey monks that the abbey released back in 2003. That was despite the fact he was first accused of past abuse of a 14-year-old prep school student years earlier.<\/p>\n
The abbey launched an internal investigation into the charge but later said it found no substantiation of abuse.<\/p>\n
Instead, Andert was appointed prior and served as the Abbey\u2019s second-in-command. He also served on the Abbey\u2019s external review board and supervised other monks on restriction.<\/p>\n
In February, Andert was reinstated into ministry after the abbey cleared him of past abuse claims.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe that Father Tom is back in a position where other people\u2019s kids can be hurt,\u201d Belrose said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the first time Andert has been accused of abuse.<\/p>\n
In 1994, he was forced out as headmaster of St. John\u2019s Prep school after abuse allegations were made by a student, Ben Spanier.<\/p>\n
Spanier battled depression and anxiety the next 20 years and took his life in December 2014.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought we\u2019d turned the corner here,\u201d said attorney Jeff Anderson, who is representing Belrose and Doe 324 in the civil suits. \u201cThis is a turn back to the old ways and old times, it begs the question.\u201d<\/p>\n
The abbey released a statement saying, \u201cSaint John\u2019s Abbey denies the allegations set forth by the two Plaintiffs in today\u2019s press conference and fully intends to defend both cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meantime, the clock is ticking on the Legislature\u2019s Child Victim\u2019s Act.<\/p>\n
After May 25, the filing window expires, meaning no more civil suits from decades old abuse cases.<\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s Abbey Hit With Two New Clergy Sex Abuse Cases
\nWCCO – TV
\nApril 12, 2016<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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