Official Statements from Saint John's Abbey
AN UPDATE FROM ABBOT JOHN, June 22, 2011
Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are morally reprehensible. Saint John's Abbey works honestly and openly with victims of sexual abuse and their attorneys. We are committed to doing all we can to help those who have been harmed to begin their healing and to correct the grievous wrongs that have been committed in the past by some members of our community.
On June 7, allegations of abuse were made against the late Abbot Timothy Kelly who served as abbot from 1992-2000. These are the first allegations that Abbot Kelly violated his vows or was an abuser. Abbot Kelly died from cancer last year.
Saint John's is investigating the allegations. We are reaching out to those who might have additional information, including representatives of the parish where the abuse allegedly occurred. And, of course, we will continue to cooperate with others who are pursuing the facts surrounding these allegations.
On a personal note, these charges are being made against a person many of knew and loved. In his time in leadership, Abbot Kelly was personally affected by the pain inflicted on so many survivors of abuse--their suffering was not an abstraction to him. He assured the voices of survivors were included in the work of the Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute.
Our own feeling about Abbot Kelly, though, will not preclude a thorough investigation. We will proceed with an open mind and with a commitment to seeking and sharing the truth. Our solemn pledge in this as d all of our investigations is to do all we can to contribute to the healing of those who have been harmed and also to restore the reputation of those who are falsely accused. And our community will continue to hold in our prayers all those who have been victims of abuse.
I will continue to keep you informed of what we are doing to deal with this issue.
Open letter to the Saint John's Community on Sex Abuse. Letter.
Joint Statement of Parties involved. Statement
Response to Media Report April 11, 2011. Response
Response to WCCO Report, April 29, 2011. Response
Saint John's Abbey: Safety Plans for Sexual Offenders
Saint John's Abbey is a member of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. On August 10, 2002, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) voted unanimously:
. To research currently available services, design needed services, and provide them to its membership to enable them to have in place a comprehensive plan to respond promptly to any allegation of sexual abuse.
. To consult with professionals skilled in the protection of vulnerable persons of any age, and to seek their guidance, especially in developing educational programs designed to prevent sexual abuse offenses by members of their own organizations.
. To provide guidelines to its membership to respond promptly to the need for more effective methods of intervention, care, treatment, and follow-up supervision of members of a religious community in need of treatment and continuing supervision for sexual abuse.
In taking this step, Saint John's Abbey joined religious communities across the country in a comprehensive program to develop Safety Plans for religious with an established claim of sexual abuse, and to develop methods for their care, treatment, and continuing supervision. Religious communities (including Saint John's Abbey) also agreed to abide by the Charter and Norms adopted by the U.S. Bishops in June of 2002 that called for the removal of ordained members from all ministry following a single established allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.
In 2003 CMSM contracted with Praesidium Religious Services (Praesidium) to develop (1) educational programs for prevention of sexual abuse, (2) a set of national standards to serve as a benchmark for the commitment to education and prevention, and for responding to allegations of sexual abuse, and (3) guidelines for the care and supervision of individual offenders in the religious community. Praesidium developed a system of accreditation for each religious organization that included documentation of the education of members and an onsite visit of each religious community.
-Saint John's Abbey completed the onsite accreditation visit in 2008 that included a review of all allegations of abuse and how they were dealt with since June 2002. In addition, the reviewers met with each monk on a Safety Plan, the monk's supervisor, and members of the Abbey's independent external Review Board. In May of 2008, Saint John's Abbey was accredited by Praesidium Religious Services, documenting that the Abbey is in full compliance with the national benchmark standards adopted by CMSM.
-Saint John's Abbey also continued a program of education for all community members that had begun in the mid-1980s. Its purposes included making all members aware of the importance of maintaining acceptable boundaries in all ministries.
-The Abbey contracted with Project Pathfinder in Saint Paul, an organization skilled in assessing an individual's risk of re-offending. In addition, this assessment led to the development of individual Safety Plans for each monk who has sexually abused that includes supervision and regular meetings with a supervisor. These Safety Plans are reviewed annually by external professionals and an independent, external Review Board.
-Monks who are living with a Safety Plan do so voluntarily as a condition for remaining a monk of Saint John's Abbey. These Safety Plans are not court-ordered.
-As part of an individual Safety Plan, an ordained monk who has sexually abused a minor cannot officiate at Mass or any sacrament in public. He may not preach, teach, or associate with students, staff, or parishioners in a ministerial relationship. This restriction on ministry also applies to non-ordained monks.
-Monks with a Safety Plan may not have social relationships or individual contact with vulnerable persons of any age on the Saint John's campus or off-campus, in any setting.
-Monks who are living with a Safety Plan are generally free to move about campus with the exception of the Preparatory School buildings, college residence halls, or swimming pool-fitness center. They are free to use the library, the bookstore, and to walk the roads and byways on the campus.
-Monks with a Safety Plan are generally allowed unescorted trips off campus, provided they inform their supervisor of their destination and return time. The supervisor has the authority to deny such a request. As a result, a monk with a Safety Plan could visit family or friends away from the campus, go for a medical appointment, or conduct other business. Monks with a Safety Plan are allowed to eat with friends and/or family members in the student dining room.
-Most Saint John's monks on a Safety Plan are engaged in one or the other of ongoing therapy, spiritual direction, and group work, for the sake of their emotional and spiritual health.
In conclusion,
. The Abbey has worked with external professionals for risk assessment, for the creation and ongoing review of Safety Plans, and for the approval of Safety Plans. The Abbey has made a diligent and conscientious effort to supervise monks on Safety Plans.
. The Abbey's safety program provides significantly more support and supervision of monks accused of sexual offenses than is provided for under Minnesota state law for many persons who have abused minors.
. Saint John's takes the issue of sexual misconduct very seriously, and over many years has worked to ensure that policies and procedures on human rights are followed and enforced. Saint John's policies are clear and longstanding: we do not tolerate sexual misconduct in any form.
Saint John's Abbey returns gift
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - On Tuesday, Dec. 15, the monks of Saint John's Abbey voted to return a $2 million gift from the Thomas J. Petters Family Foundation for construction of the Petters Pavilion and to remove the name. A new name for the facility has not yet been selected.
The abbey is currently in discussions with the Receiver on the terms and conditions of these payments, which should be concluded soon.
Completed in May 2007, the pavilion is a 3,500 square-foot expansion of the Abbey Chapter House. The two-level addition to the east entrance of the Abbey Church provides lobby space, elevator and stairwell access to the Assumption Chapel in the lower church, restrooms, bride's and groom's rooms, storage, and a pedestrian tunnel that now connects the Abbey Guesthouse to the pavilion and church for use during inclement weather. Traditionally used by monks for spiritual conferences and abbey business matters, the chapter house has been equipped with improved acoustics, air-conditioning, and space to accommodate audiences for such programs as the "Sundays at the Abbey" lecture series, and for retreats, workshops, and seminars for both on-campus and off-campus groups.
Designed by the Minneapolis architectural firm Vincent James Associates Architects, both the Abbey Guesthouse and the pavilion have won national and state American Institute of Architects awards in architectural design.
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