News & Events

Jan 02, 2014: Lawsuit Filed Over St. Cloud Diocese Priest List

A Sartell man has asked a Stearns County court to order the Diocese of
Saint Cloud to release a list of 26 priests church officials say are
credibly accused of sexual abuse. Robert Ethen, 61, said he was abused in the mid-1960s by the Rev. James
Thoennes. Ethen said the abuse occurred when he was 13 years old, while
on an overnight trip with Thoennes to the home of the priest’s mother in
Sauk Centre.

Dec 30, 2013: Media Advisory: Diocese of Duluth to Release List of “Credibly Accused” Priests

The release of the list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors is a good first step for the Diocese of Duluth.We applaud the courageous survivors, including Michael DeRoche, for standing up and seeking the release of this list.While we are encouraged by this first step, for there to be true transparency, the Diocese must also release the secret documents that it has on each priest on the list. These documents will show what…

Dec 30, 2013: Duluth Diocese to Reveal List of ‘Credibly Accused’ Priests

The Duluth Diocese will release the names of its priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse Tuesday, a spokesman said today.The announcement comes several weeks after a lawsuit was filed in State
District Court seeking the release of information on 17 priests. The
suit, filed Dec. 9 on the behalf of an anonymous victim, claimed that
the diocese was negligent in allowing abuse to continue and has created a
nuisance by not releasing the names of accused priests.

Dec 26, 2013: Monsignor William Lynn Conviction Overturned by Pa. Court; D.A. ‘Most Likely’ to Appeal

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said he will most likely appeal the Superior Court’s reversal Thursday of the conviction of Monsignor William Lynn.”I am disappointed and strongly disagree with the court’s decision,” Williams said in a statement. “While we are deciding what our next course of action will be, we most likely will be appealing this decision.”

Dec 24, 2013: Eau Claire Pediatrician Accused of Molesting Patients Faces 14 More Civil Lawsuits

Dr. David Van de Loo was named as a defendant in 14 additional civil suits filed Monday in Eau Claire County Court by former patients who accuse him of sexually abusing them during examinations.Until September 2012, the 61-year-old pediatrician practiced at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, named as one of three additional defendants in the lawsuits. The others are the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund and ProAssurance Casualty Co., both based in Madison. 

Dec 20, 2013: News Release: Statement and Apology Issued to Father Patrick J. Ryan

 News ReleaseJeff Anderson statement of erroneous depiction of priest on“Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ List of 34”Firm issues public apology to Father Patrick J. Ryan(St. Paul, MN) – Jeff Anderson and Associates sincerely apologizes for the incorrect depiction of Father Patrick J. Ryan at its Press Conference on December 5, 2013. At the conference and included in the media kit, our firm depicted Father Patrick J. Ryan on “The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ List of 34.” The image of Father Patrick J. Ryan was mistakenly confirmed as the Father Patrick Joseph Ryan conta…

Dec 16, 2013: Media Advisory: Winona Diocese Names 14 Priests Credibly Accused of Abuse

At a news conference today in Rochester, sexual abuse attorney Mike Finnegan and former priest and advocate Patrick J. Wall, will respond to the court-ordered release of a list containing the names of 13 priests with credible allegations of child sexual abuse by the Diocese of Winona.“The release of this list makes our communities safer for children and we applaud the …

Dec 11, 2013: Media Advisory: Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Requests Diocese of New Ulm to Release List

 Media AdvisoryDecember 11, 2013Mankato Press Conference ThursdayDiocese of New Ulm, Servants of the Paraclete Named in Sexual Abuse LawsuitThe identities of 12 priests with accusations of sexual abuse of a minor remain protectedWhat:  At a news conference on Thursday in Mankato, sexual abuse attorney Mike Finnegan of Jeff Anderson & Associates along with attorney Mike Bryant of St. Cloud will:• Announce the filing of a sexual abuse lawsuit on behalf of a man, Doe 10, who was sexually abused as a young boy by Fr. Francis Markey at St. Andrew Parish in Granite Falls, MN….

Dec 11, 2013: Pope Francis: Person of the Year?

Pope Francis as the “person of the year”? Time Magazine thinks so.While Pope Francis has certainly distinguished himself from his predecessors by shedding the extravagant robes, choosing the guest house instead of the official papal apartment, and refusing standard Vatican security measures such as riding in the popemobile, what is less certain is whether the current Pope will set himself apart when it comes to the continuing child sex abuse scandal facing the Catholic Church. As a recent commentary in the Huffington Post points out, Pope Francis has yet to devote much, if any, attention …

Dec 11, 2013: Media Advisory: Child Sexual Abuse Survivor to Speak Publicly of Abuse by Fr. Daniel McCormack

Media AdvisoryDecember 10, 2013Chicago News Conference WednesdayFirst survivor to publicly speak out about abuse by serial child molester Fr. Daniel McCormackLawsuit to be filed naming the Archdiocese of Chicago involving sexual abuse of survivor at St. AilbeWhat:  At a news conference on Wednesday, December 11, 2013, in Chicago, sexual abuse attorneys Jeff Anderson and Marc Pearlman will:• Introduce a sexual abuse survivor who was abused by Father Daniel McCormack during the years that he attended St. Ailbe School and was a young student, altar server and member of the basketba…

Dec 10, 2013: News Release: Judge Orders Nuisance Claim to Proceed in Doe 1 Sexual Abuse Case

 News ReleaseDecember 10, 2013Judge Allows Nuisance Claim to ProceedArchdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona fought to have the claim dismissed(St. Paul, MN) – Today, Ramsey County District Judge John Van de North issued an Order allowing a survivor’s nuisance claim to proceed.  The nuisance claim sought to make public the names and documents about credibly accused priests. Last week, the court ordered the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona to release the names.  Today’s decision allows this survivor, Doe 1, to proceed in u…