Brian Lederer

Father Brian Lederer was born in 1985 and ordained on June 22, 2012, in the Diocese of Duluth. Fr. Lederer worked in the Diocese of Duluth at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hibbing, MN. On May 7, 2015, the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office charged Lederer with criminal sexual conduct for the alleged abuse of three minor girls. A fourth minor girl subsequently came forward also alleging abuse by Lederer while he worked at Assumption Catholic School in Hibbing.

On November 30, 2015, 6^th Judicial District Judge David Ackerson denied Fr. Lederer’s request to dismiss the criminal charges which included seven sexual assault and child pornography charges. Fr. Lederer has pleaded not guilty and faces a maximum 25 year prison sentence. A trial date has not been set.

Fr. Lederer’s name was added to the Diocese of Duluth’s list of priests with credible accusations of child sexual abuse.

According to the Diocese of Duluth, Fr. Lederer was assigned to the following parishes:

7/11/12-7/7/15 – Blessed Sacrament Church, Hibbing, MN (Assumption Catholic School)

Efforts to unseal the secret documents regarding clergy sexual abuse in the Diocese of Duluth began with the first lawsuit filed in June 2013. Since then, survivors have taken numerous actions to make the files public.

In October 2015, a jury verdict was handed down against the Diocese of Duluth in a child sexual abuse case in Ramsey County involving Fr. James Vincent Fitzgerald. On December 7, 2015, the Diocese of Duluth filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

More information on the Diocese of Duluth bankruptcy can be found at:www.andersonadvocates.com/Bankruptcy