A man allegedly abused by a priest is taking the diocese to court with hopes of compelling church leaders to release a list of names of the accused.
According to an article in the St. Cloud Times, Robert Ethan will hold a press conference with his attorneys later this week, during which he will announce his lawsuit and discuss the sexual abuse he says he suffered in the 1960s at the hands of James A. Thoennes, a reverend the suit alleges was moved from parish to parish to conceal accusations of abuse.
In 2003, the St. Cloud diocese said there were 23 clergymen accused of abuse but did not release the names of those individuals.
In December, The Minneapolis-St. Paul Diocese released a list of 34 accused clergymen. That release was the result of a court order after abuse victims sued. The Winona and Duluth dioceses and St. John’s Abbey have also released lists of names.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, please contact Copeley Law Firm by calling (919) 627-1356 or using the contact form on the right side of this page. All emails and calls are completely confidential. If we cannot help you we will refer you to someone who can.