Archdiocese releases additional priest names

Published 8:49 am Tuesday, February 18, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Monday released the names of nine more priests it said were “credibly accused” of sexually abusing minors.

Attorneys and advocates for victims immediately challenged the archdiocese to disclose the names of all priests accused of misconduct, not just those deemed likely to be guilty.

The archdiocese said the new disclosure resulted from a review of church files by an outside consulting firm and posted the names on its website alongside the names of nearly three dozen other priests first posted in December.

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All but one of the new cases occurred 25 to 50 years ago, the archdiocese statement said. All nine priests have been permanently removed from ministry, the most recent in 2007, and at least three of the men are now dead, it said.

“We made a public commitment to prudent and ongoing disclosure of substantiated claims,” archdiocese spokesman Jim Accurso said. “Today’s disclosure is part of keeping that promise.”