Fr. Oswald Krusing: Accused of Sexual Misconduct of a Minor

Oswald Krusing Documents  |  Oswald Krusing Timeline

In 1947, there was a deposition from a man from Holy Apostles Parish, New Berlin, who reported that his 14-year-old niece was called to the rectory from the parish school, that she was told to strip to the waist, was made to sit on his lap while he sucked on her breasts. He attempted to rape her but she resisted. She was threatened that she would go to hell if she said anything. Nonetheless she told her mother what happened and had since heard that other girls were similarly treated.

An undated letter from a mother who reported that she suspects that there were 20 girls from the ages of 12 to 19 that Krusing took “indecent liberties with” at Holy Apostles. She reported fondling and rape.

In 1949, there was a report that Krusing had a preoccupation with sexual topics in preaching and teaching catechism.

In 1955, two letters were sent from an attorney who was a parishioner at Holy Apostles and co-signed by another parishioner. He reported on activities dating from 1953 onward, repeating the above report about preoccupation with sexual issues. He reported that Krusing gave detailed sexual talks to girls as young as nine and called them “filthy, messy beings only good for a man’s satisfaction.” From the altar he frequently made reference to body parts and said the laws on rape should be changed to punish the girl as the transgressor. In preaching about the prohibition of sexual activity outside of marriage, he gave detailed descriptions of what sexual acts are permitted in marriage.

In 1962, an attorney in Racine sent a report about Krusing’s abuse of a ten-year-old girl reported to him by the girl’s parents. Krusing was reported to have taken the girl to the rectory on several occasions to play cards. He took her to his bedroom and undressed her, masturbated in her presence, and fondled her breasts and genitals. He told her not to tell her parents, the police or the bishop. The girl eventually told her mother what was going on. Krusing was told by Archbishop Cousins to leave the parish within the week. He went to the Trappist monastery in New Mellery.

There was a series of letters (sometimes twice a day) to Monsignor Beres from Krusing. He told Monsignor Beres how hard all of this was and that he knew he made a mistake and that the family will not want any publicity or scandal. He reported that they are very religious and will not want to bring him down. After about a month at the monastery, Krusing was sent to a psychiatric unit at St. Mary Hospital in Minneapolis. A full battery of tests was conducted. The doctor’s final report stated that Krusing “has more than average difficulty with sexual drives, that he is troubled by sexual fantasies . . . that have broken through into overt acting out.” His negative attitudes toward women were reported as a defense against these thoughts and actions. The doctor noted that Krusing did not seem capable of exercising his own self-control and some assistance would be needed. He recommended some “long term form of probation” with regular reporting to some church authority and stated that working in an institutional or administrative position would be more fitting for him.

There was no appointment letter but it would appear that he was appointed chaplain at the Notre Dame infirmary in Elm Grove for two years (1962-64) before being named a pastor again at St. Charles Borromeo.

In 1968 and 1969, when he was pastor at St. Rita, West Allis, a series of letters was sent regarding his statements about women, especially the sisters at the school. They indicated that there were numerous other complaints but that some people feared retaliation if they said more.

Through Project Benjamin and Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response reports there is the following:

1993 report of a 1948 abuse

1996 report of a 1943 abuse of 12-year-old

1997 report of a 1957 abuse

2004 report of a 1934 abuse of a 10-year-old

An additional report was received in 2011 dealing with abuse at St. Rita’s in the late 1960’s.

All abuses are consistent with the behaviors reported in the written accounts above.

Pastoral Assignment Gathered From The Archdiocese of Milwaukee