Monks suffer with abusers in the family
The shame, anger and soul-searching that have gripped much of the U.S. Catholic church in the wake of an avalanche of sex abuse scandals this year have been felt acutely by the band of Benedictines who...
View ArticleMovers & Shapers: Abbot John Klassen
COLLEGEVILLE — He’s the man they call on to get the job done whether on the farm, with soon-to-be monks, in the chemistry department or now as head of the St. John’s monastery. Abbot John Klassen,...
View ArticleCourt to Consider Expelling Clergy
A Minneapolis man who accuses St. John’s Abbey of “harboring pedophiles” has filed a court action demanding the removal of 11 monks and priests from St. John’s property. John Kerwin filed an unlawful...
View ArticleToo Many Rumors, Too Few Answers
Accused clergy remain at St. John’s Abbey, schools Abbot releases information to end ‘culture of secrecy’ that aids abuse COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — Thirteen to 15 monks or priests live and work under...
View ArticleThe Spotless Bride and the Scattered Apostles
I met with Fr. O’Connell and Andrew Ritten at about 4:00 P.M. at the Dunn Brothers coffee shop on Loring Park. I thanked him for meeting me and mentioned that up to that point, Fr. Kevin McDonough and...
View ArticleCredibly Accused of Sexual Misconduct
St. John’s Abbey Benedictine establishment at Collegeville, MN, the largest Benedictine monastery in the western world, adjacent to St. John’s University and St. John’s Preparatory School. At least 14...
View ArticleJustice for Josh March
Press Release [ View as PDF ] October 29, 2009 Press Release – “Justice for Josh” March * Joshua Guimond disappeared while at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN in 2002. * November 7, 2009 is...
View ArticleSeven Years… Time To Start Asking Questions
Today (November 10, 2009) marks the seven year anniversary of Joshua Guimond’s disappearance from the St. John’s University campus in Collegeville, Minnesota. There are still more questions than...
View ArticleAlleged Sexual Abuse Victim Sues St. John’s Abbey (w/ Video)
(Fox 9) ST. PAUL, Minn. – A man who says he was sexually abused by an instructor at St. John’s Preparatory School in Collegeville is filing a Ramsey County lawsuit against the school, the religious...
View ArticleDioceses oust abusers they pledged to monitor
At St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, several members of the Order of St. Benedict live under restrictions imposed by Abbot John Klassen. Some members faced with the possibility of restrictions have...
View ArticleRev. Fran Hoefgen Officiated
According to the following obituary notice, Rev. Fran Hoefgen continues to perform some priestly duties. Sept. 3, 2010 OBITUARIES | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 3:32 PM BY ABC NEWSPAPERS Ronald Swanson...
View ArticleFormer Monks Visited at Home
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) – Every alumnus of St. John’s University in Collegeville will soon be getting a letter from the school. The letter names 17 priests and monks who the Abbey has identified as...
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Abbey Letter Lists Eighteen Offending Monks
I am posting this open letter to you because I wish to publicly acknowledge that the following monks have had credible allegations of sexual abuse, exploitation, or misconduct brought against them...
View ArticleKlassen/Abbey Continue to Deceive
In 2006, the student newspaper at St. John’s featured an article [ View ] about sexual abuse by the monks at St. John’s Abbey. The article referenced research showing that “more monks will be named and...
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Letter from Fran Hoefgen to Prisoner
“I live in a cell also, only it is a cell in a monastery. I am a Benedictine monk from Minnesota.” – Fr. Fran Hoefgen, in a letter to one of his victims, 23 years later. In a letter written on St....
View ArticleThe Monks That Live Next Door
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Earlier this month, St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville mailed letters to thousands of St. John’s Prep School alumni saying over a period of more than 40 years, 17 monks had “credible...
View ArticleMonk in Good Standing?
On page 28 of the Winter, 2010 issue of the Abbey Banner, Fr. Fran Hoefgen certainly appears to be a monk in good standing at St. John’s Abbey. This photo is available… Here
View ArticleAbbey Now Admits to 23 Monk Perpetrators
Saint John’s Abbey has quietly admitted, via a revamped web site, that at least 23 members of its community have been credibly accused of sexual abuse or misconduct. According to the abbey’s web site [...
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Lawsuit expected against St. John’s Abbey, priest
(SC Times) A press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday morning in St. Paul to announce the filing of a clergy sex abuse lawsuit against a former St. John’s Abbey priest. The lawsuit names as...
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