Michael J. Kuisle
On October 7, 2014 the priest file of Father Michael Kuisle was released to the public. Along with Kuisle’s file, the files of thirteen other priests with credible allegations of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Winona were also released. The files were obtained as part of the Doe 1 v. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona civil lawsuit filed in Ramsey County in May 2013. The lawsuit was made possible due to the Child Victims Act passed by the Minnesota legislature.
Born June 25, 1916, Father Michael J. Kuisle was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Winona on June 2, 1940. Father Kuisle’s name was released on December 16, 2013 by the Diocese of Winona as part of a court order in the Doe 1 lawsuit. The Winona Diocese, along with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, were ordered to release the names of priests with credible allegations of child sexual abuse; the priests named were also part of the John Jay Charter Study in 2004.
According to court documents filed on December 16, 2013, by the Diocese of Winona, Father Michael J. Kuisle worked at the following parishes:
- 1940-1943: Saint Mary’s, Winona, MN
- 1943 – 1947: Saint Francis, Rochester, MN
- 1947 – 1954: Saint Joseph, Rushford; St. Mary’s, Houston; St. Patrick, Ridgeway, MN
- 1954 – 1956: Satin Francis de Sales, Claremont, MN and West Concord, MN
- 1956 – 1965: Saint Peter’s Church, Hokah, MN
- 1965 – 1970: Church of the Crucifixion, La Crescent, MN
- 1970: Saint Bernard’s Church, Stewartville, MN
- 1971: Ministerial Status: Voluntary resignation