Nine Clergy Sex Abuse Cases Are Settled

Victims Get $1.7 Million and Disclosure and Reforms

Catholic group must make predators names public

Order ignored signals that cleric was molesting, lawsuit says

(Saint Paul, MN) – At a news conference, a clergy sex abuse victim will announce

  • Settlement of his child molestation lawsuit and eight other survivors’ settlements and
  • A series of abuse prevention steps including the disclosure of other predators? names

Why
Nine men who were sexually assaulted as boys by clerics with the Crosier religious order have resolved their civil lawsuits in exchange for several non-economic abuse prevention steps and $1,700,000. As part of the settlement, the names of all living ex-Crosiers with credible allegations of child sex abuse will be disclosed. Also as part of the settlement, the Crosiers will disclose documents regarding Crosier sex abusers.

The victims include Bob Skjonsby who was molested by Mohs in the 1980s in the Twin Cities and in Onamia, MN. Skjonsby, who now lives in Port Orchard Washington, sued Mohs and the Crosiers in April 2006. Under oath, Mohs admitted he victimized Skjonsby and that his supervisors knew he molested kids even earlier in his career. According to the lawsuit, Mohs? supervisors knew he had sexual and alcohol problems with alcohol and needed continual counseling for these issues. Yet church officials, the lawsuit says, kept moving him and continued to let him work around kids.

Members of the Crosiers began hearing reports of sexual abuse of children by Mohs and other clerics as early as the 1970s. They admit having doubts about letting Mohs remain part of the community because of his problems, yet continue to assign him to work where he had access to kids.

Mohs, a native of Blackduck MN, has worked in seven Minnesota communities (Onamia, Belle Prairie, Minneapolis, Coon Rapids, St. Paul, Anoka, and St. Cloud) and one in Indiana (Ft. Wayne). He was last believed to be living in Rice, MN.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2006/05_06/2006_05_04_Zack_TwoAlleged.htm

When
Today, Thursday, February 5 at 1:00 PM

Where
Law Offices of Jeff Anderson
366 Jackson Street, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55101

Who
One of the victims, his wife, and a prominent Minnesota attorney who represents hundreds of adults who were abused as kids by teachers, coaches, ministers, and other authority figures.

-30-