News Release
October 8, 2013
The Diocese of Crookston seeks to throw out efforts to make public
the Diocese’s list of known child predators
(Crookston, MN) – Tomorrow at 1:00PM in a Polk County courtroom, a sexual abuse survivor, along with her attorneys, will request the public release of a secret list possessed and maintained by the Diocese of Crookston that contains the names of several priests who have credible allegations of sexual abuse.
Judge Tamara Yon will hear arguments from the survivor’s attorney, Jeff Anderson, along with defense counsel for the Diocese of Crookston. The lawsuit was filed June 20th, 2013 in Polk County and also names the Diocese of Fall River, MA and the Servants of the Paraclete claiming they were negligent in allowing the now-deceased Father James R. Porter continued access to children. Father James R. Porter is suspected of abusing over 100 children in multiple states including Minnesota, Massachusetts, Texas, and New Mexico.
“We are asking for full and complete disclosure of offenders known to only the Diocese of Crookston, the Diocese of Fall River and the Servants of the Paraclete” said attorney Jeff Anderson. “The continued secrecy by all defendants gravely imperils the wellness of the community and the children.” The survivor and Anderson are also seeking the public release of the lists maintained by the Diocese of Fall River and the Servants of the Paraclete.
Similar hearings have been held in Ramsey County pertaining to the release of the names of priests contained in secret lists known only to, and maintained, by both the Diocese of Winona and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The judge has yet to issue a ruling in these cases.
Not unlike the Ramsey county cases, arguments will be made in this case, and in others in the future about how the Diocese of Crookston maintained and kept secret this list. It is expected the Diocese will argue that the privacy of priests outweighs the need for public disclosure.
The Diocese of Crookston is represented by Stephen Plunkett of Bassford Remele in Minneapolis, and Susan Gaertner of Gray Plant Mooty in Minneapolis. The Diocese of Fall River is represented by Garth Unke of Stich, Angell, Kreidler, Dodge & Unke, P.A. in Minneapolis. The Servants of the Paraclete are represented by attorney Daniel Haws of St. Paul.
• The original complaint, along with additional information on Father James R. Porter, can be found on our website at www.andersonadvocates.com.
Contact Jeff Anderson: Office/651.227.9990 Cell/612.817.8665
Contact Sarah Odegaard: Office/651.227.9990 Cell/612.616.4218