July 25, 2012
Statement of Jeff Anderson re: Minnesota Supreme Court decision – John Doe 76C v. Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Diocese of Winona
“We are deeply disappointed and shocked by the decision of the Minnesota Supreme Court to deny access to justice for this victim of childhood sexual abuse who repressed the memory of his abuse because it was so traumatic. In its decision the court determined that science concerning repression of memory is unsettled enough that it can’t be used in the court and thus denies Jim Keenan access to a trial–for this we are deeply saddened.
WE ARE SCARED FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN because the dismissal of this case results in us not being able to release, or require the release of, a secret list of offenders kept by defendants–some of whom are still in the community.
Until those names are revealed, it is our view that the cover-up continues and children and the community remain at risk. There are 33 names that were reported to have been credibly accused by the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and 13 in the Diocese of Winona, that’s 46 credibly accused offenders as of 2004 and how many more on this list remain secret and remain unknown.
Because of this decision today, those secrets remain and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona are allowed to put their reputation above the health, safety and well-being of the children in our communities.
In addition, it is sad that on the day after Monsignor Lynn in Philadelphia was sentenced to four years in prison for endangerment of children, that the Minnesota courts have denied the opportunity to this survivor to expose the kind of cover-up that was revealed in Philadelphia and has been underscored by the revelations at Penn State.
Indeed, there is great irony in that on the day after our country witnessed the esteemed Penn State University being held accountable for their cover-up of the sexual abuse of innocent children, Minnesota bishops, are given yet another pass in the effort to hold them accountable for decades of deceit and denial of their responsibility for the sexual abuse of Minnesota children.”
Contact Jeff Anderson: Office 651.227.9990 Mobile 612.817.8665 Jeff@AndersonAdvocates.com