(New York, NY) – The bishops of every New York diocese are secretly hiding the names and histories of priest child molesters that they have kept hidden for decades, lawyers for victims said today.“Last week, the Diocese of Brooklyn quietly released the names of eight men they knew had sexually abused kids,” said Mike Reck, an a…
News & Events
Clergy Abuse Law Firm Demands Immediate Disclosure of the Names of Offenders Held Secret by New York Catholic BishopsLaw firm challenges New York bishops to demonstrate that they are not the most dangerous state for children (New York, NY) – The covert disclosure yesterday of the names of 8 priests who were removed by the Brooklyn Diocese for the sexual abuse of children underscores the clear and present danger in New York. Every diocese has held the names of child sex offenders in complete secrecy since 2002. These names have only recently begun to leak out under pressure. Until these names a…
Settlement Reached With One of Diocese of Duluth’s InsurersIn Bankruptcy CaseCatholic Mutual Will Pay Abuse Claimants $8.95 MillionDeal Contingent On Court Approval, Consensual ReorganizationPlan Confirmation(St. Paul, MN) – A settlement has been reached with one of the Diocese of Duluth’s multiple insurers in the Diocese’s bankruptcy case stemming from clergy sexual abuse. The insurer, Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America (Catholic Mutual), will contribute $8,950,000.00 to the Diocese of Duluth bankruptcy case. If approved, the money will be used to pay a portion of the sexual abuse clai…
Court Enters $2.5 Million Dollar Judgment Against Jason McLean McLean evades court order, sells businesses and Flees to California, Mexico.
NOVEMBER 1 DEADLINE 48 HOURS TO TAKE ACTION IF YOU WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK(New York, NY) – On Wednesday November 1, 2017, time will expire for survivors of child sexual abuse who were abused in the Archdiocese of New York. Truth and justice should not have a statute of limitations, however this may be the last chance sexual abuse survivors in the Archdiocese of New York have to obtain some measure of justice for the abuse they suffered as children. “It is an urgent necessity for survivors to immediately evaluate their rights before the impending deadline,” said Atto…
Diocese of Rockville CentreAnnounces Compensation Program for Sexual Abuse Survivors (Rockville Centre, NY) – Today, the Diocese of Rockville Centre announced a compensation program for survivors of child sexual abuse. Phase I of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) is open to survivors of clergy sexual abuse who previously reported abuse by a diocesan priest or deacon, to the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The deadline for Phase I submissions is December 31, 2017. According to the diocese, Phase II will commence at a later date, which is anticipated to be in January 20…
Coercion Claim Against Crookston Bishop Hoeppner SettledLetter Hoeppner Coerced Vasek to Sign in 2015 Released as Part of the Settlement(St. Paul, MN) – Ron Vasek settled his coercion claim against Crookston Bishop Michael Hoeppner this week. As part of the settlement, Vasek received a copy of the letter the Bishop coerced him into signing in 2015 retracting his statement that he had been abused by Msgr. Roger Grundhaus when he was 16 years old. Vasek’s attorney, Jeff Anderson, said for Ron this case was about exposing the truth. “Ron suffered in silence and shame….
Hearing Tomorrow in Thief River Falls in Case Where Statute of Limitations Extended by Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner’s Coercion Attorneys asking Court to Sanction the Diocese of Crookston for Concealing Msgr. Roger Grundhaus’ Name(Thief River Falls, MN): In a hearing tomorrow, courageous survivor Ron Vasek will ask the Court to deny the Diocese of Crookston’s attempts to throw out his public nuisance and negligence claims. Ron Vasek was sexually abused by former Vicar General of the Diocese of Crookston, Msgr. Roger Grundhaus, in approximately 1971. After Mr. Vasek disclosed the…
St. John’s Abbey settles 17 more sex abuse cases, 3 never before disclosed names added to its list of abusersNewly identified abusers, Fr. Strub, Fr. Kelly and Fr. Plakut Worked Throughout Minnesota“This is real progress,” says Attorney Jeff AndersonFather Augustine Strub Bio and Assignment HistoryFather Casimir Plakut Bio and Assignment HistoryFather James Kelly Bio and Assignment History(St. Paul, MN) – On Monday, St. John’s Abbey added three more names to a growing list of its priests and monks who have sexually abused children. St. John’s acknowledged that monks Fr. Casimir Plakut, Fr. Aug…
(St. Paul, MN) –Mitchell Hamline School of Law and Jeff Anderson & Associates are breaking new ground in child abuse prevention and legal education by announcing the Zero Abuse Project (ZAP). A $2 million gift from Jeff Anderson & Associates to Mitchell Hamline will launch a collaboration aimed at training professionals and transforming how institutions play a necessary …
We are disturbed but not surprised by Pope Francis’ support of Cardinal George Pell after Australian authorities charged him with multiple counts of “historical sexual assault offenses” on Thursday. The Vatican stated it learned of the charges “with regret” and that Pope Francis appreciated Pell’s honesty and commitment. during his three years at the Vatican, where he is the third-ranking official.“This comment about Pell’s ‘honesty’ is a rebuke to survivors and another step backwards for the papacy and any perceived progress regarding clergy sex abuse,” said…
(Minneapolis, MN) – Today, the Crosier Fathers & Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Minnesota. The Crosier order is a Roman Catholic religious order of priests and brothers with communities in Phoenix, Arizona and Onamia, Minnesota. The Crosier order is the 18th Catholic Diocese or Religious order to file for bankruptcy protection in the United States. Sexual abuse survivors and the Crosiers have worked together to reach a framework for a $25.5 million dollar agreement to fairly compensate survivors of child sexual abuse by me…
(Minneapolis, MN) – In December 2016, United States Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert J. Kressel ruled that two proposed reorganization plans would move forward to a vote in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis bankruptcy case. One plan was submitted by the Archdiocese and one plan was submitted by the Creditors’ Committee. Of the 447 people eligible to vote, 406 people participated in the voting process. The plan submitted by the Creditors’ Committee received 94% of survivors’ votes and 93% of the survivors who participated voted to reject the plan proposed by the Archdiocese.
Sexual Abuse Survivor Ron Vasek Breaks SilenceAbout Abuse by Former Diocese of Crookston Vicar General Msgr. Roger GrundhausCrookston Bishop Michael Hoeppner Sued for Coercion (St. Paul, MN) – A Minnesota man sued the Diocese of Crookston and Bishop Michael Hoeppner on Tuesday, claiming that Hoeppner coerced him into keeping silent about his alleged abuse by a Diocese of Crookston priest 46 years ago and signing a document stating the abuse never occurred.Ron Vasek and his attorney, Jeff Anderson, announced the filing of the lawsuit in St. Paul. Vasek alleges that he was abused as a minor by…
(New York, New York) – The Archdiocese of New York announced Phase II of its Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) for survivors of clerical sexual abuse. The program which opened in October has now been extended to include sexual abuse survivors who have not previously reported their abuse to the Archdiocese. However, the question of a survivor’s…