Diocese of Winona's Safe Environment Program

We are Committed to this Mission In mid-December, the Diocese of Winona released a list of thirteen priest names associated with the John Jay Study commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2002 as well as one additional name representing a recent claim. See the last page of this special section for more information about the study and list. This was a very difficult day, and it was very sad for everyone concerned.

Over the past few decades, a number of clergy members in the Diocese of Winona sadly have been accused of violating the sacred trust placed in them by children, youth and their families and were accused of detestable crimes of sexual abuse. This has caused insufferable harm to victims, their families, parishioners and the Church. For this I am truly sorry.

The Diocese of Winona has fully adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (“the Charter”), as promulgated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop, and is committed to combating the problems of sexual abuse, protecting the young and vulnerable, caring for the victims of abuse, and restoring trust and hope. We are committed to a process of transparency about sexual abuse by clergy and the disclosure of names of those with substantiated claims so that this will never occur again.

The Diocese of Winona works vigorously and has taken extraordinary measures to ensure that all of the schools, parishes and programs administered in the Diocese adhere to the Charter so that those entrusted to our care are safe.

Nearly 5,000 priests, deacons, lay employees, volunteers and seminarians complete the Virtus Safe Environment Program annually. This ongoing program strengthens the stringent policies and procedures that have been in place for over a decade now. Everyone is invited to examine these resources on our website www.dow.org and share with us ideas and ways that we can further strengthen our programs. If you have been harmed or know someone who has been harmed, the information needed to report the claim can be found on the site.

It is a difficult time for the Church in the Diocese of Winona. It is also a time of hope which presents an opportunity to heal and continue moving forward. Today, our parishes are vibrant and safer than ever before. Our priests, deacons, religious, volunteers, lay leaders and parishioners are of one heart. A heart fully committed to reflecting the love of Jesus Christ through everything we do in worship, faith formation, education and service.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

John M. Quinn Bishop of Winona

Our Safe Environment Program The mission of the Diocese of Winona's "Safe Environment Program" is to ensure the safety of children and young people who have been entrusted to our care in our parishes, schools, religious education classes, and other programs.

We pursue this mission in three ways: 1. By thoroughly screening and supervising all members of the clergy (priests and deacons), as well as all employees and volunteers who work with children and young people as part of their ministry.

Over 30,000 background checks have been run on clergy, employees and volunteers since 2002.

2. By providing appropriate training in recognizing and reporting child abuse to appropriate civil and Church authorities.

All adults who work with minors must attend a VIRTUS® session. Over 600 sessions have taken place in the Diocese with over 8,000 attendees recorded since we began with VIRTUS just over 2 years ago. (Before using VIRTUS® an online training was required.)

All children in the diocesan educational programs are required to participate in the “Circle of Grace Program”.

Circle of Grace programs are educational programs that teach children how to protect themselves from being sexually abused. Age appropriate programs have been implemented throughout the diocese. Circle of Grace is a safe environment program developed by the Archdiocese of Omaha.

3. By holding all members of the clergy, employees and volunteers who work with children and young people to Christ-centered and professional codes of conduct.

Our volunteer code of conduct and Employee/ Clergy code of conduct can both be found on our website at www.dow.org

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A Plan To Protect God's Children®

The Protecting God’s Children program is required for all adults who are in a staff or volunteer assignment where the potential exists for contact with children or youth. The Protecting God’s Children Program begins with making adults more aware of the ways children and adults interact with each other. The Protecting God's Children program educates and trains adults (clergy, religious, teachers, staff, volunteers, and parents) about the dangers of abuse, the warning signs of abuse, the ways to prevent abuse, the methods of properly reporting suspicions of abuse, and responding to allegations of abuse. Below are the five steps taught in the VIRTUS® Protecting God’s Children program:

Step 1: Know the Warning Signs

Step 2: Control Access Catholic Church‘s

The Solution to End Clergy Sexual Abuse

Knowing the warning signs means that we can recognize the early signs of an inappropriate relationship with a child. If we know the warning signs, then we can identify potential abuse before it happens. If we know the warning signs, we do not have to rely on a child to report an incident.

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Discourages other adults from participating or monitoring.

Always wants to be alone with children.

More excited to be with children than adults.

Gives gifts to children, often without permission.

Goes overboard touching.

Always wants to wrestle or tickle.

Thinks the rules do not apply to them.

Allows children to engage in activities their parents would not allow.

Uses bad language or tells dirty jokes to children.

Shows children pornography

Controlling access means that we are careful about whom we allow to work with our children. It also sends a message to potential child molesters that we are alert about child sexual abuse.

• Communicate the church’s commitment to keeping children safe.

• Use written, standard applications.

• Require criminal background checks.

• Complete face-to-face interviews.

• Check references.

• Make sure computers with Internet access are located in open areas.

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Step 3: Monitor all Programs Child molesters look for ways to spend time alone with children.

If they know someone is watching, they have more trouble finding opportunities to abuse without getting caught.

• Identify secluded areas, lock empty rooms.

• Develop policies regarding use of secluded areas. For example, staff should check bathrooms before sending children in alone.

• Do not permit children to enter staff-only areas.

• Only meet with children where other adults can pass by.

• Supervisors should look in on activities and monitor computer usage.

• Make sure enough adults are involved in programs.

• Allow parents to drop in on programs.

• Do not start new programs without approval from the pastoral council, the pastor, and/or the children’s ministry committee.

Step 4: Be Aware Being aware means that parents should know what is going on in the lives of their own children and pay attention to subtle signs of a problem. Parents should talk to their children, listen to them, and observe them. When we observe and communicate with our children, we are more likely to detect the signs if they are in danger.

We can notice a sudden change in behavior, if they get moody or aggressive, lose interest in school, or stop taking care of their personal hygiene.

• Talk to your children.

• Listen to your children.

• Observe your children and their online activity.

• Let your children know they can tell you anything.

• Teach your children where their private parts are.

• Talk to your children often about protecting themselves online.

• Teach your children what to do if someone tries to touch them.

• Teach your children what to do if someone makes them uncomfortable.

Sexual Abuse of Children: Ten Years of Hard-Earned Knowledge

Step 5: Communicate Your Concerns Communicating concerns means telling someone when you are uncomfortable with a situation or if you suspect abuse. It means paying attention to your own feelings and not waiting until it is too late.

Only by communicating concerns can we use our knowledge to protect children. Even if abuse is not occurring, it is still important to let others know when you have concerns.

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Talk to the person involved, and/or Speak to their supervisor, and/or Notify a church official, and/or Call the child abuse hotline, and/or Call the police.

By Bernard Nojadera With 2012, the Catholic Church looks back on a decade of learning about a problem which may be decades of centuries old: the sexual abuse of minors by those who would mentor them.

The crisis in the Church in the United States reached a head in 2002, when newspaper coverage nationwide highlighted the existence of this horrific crime and moral travesty...

In the United States, the Catholic Church adopted a plan to address the issue, called the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. It has spent billions of dollars on settlements, and education and background checks to do all it can to prevent the abuse of children in its care. We have come to some understanding of how to address the problem, gaining knowledge that can benefit more than the Catholic Church.

Some of what we’ve learned: • The guiding principle when confronting child sexual abuse is to remember that it is most of all about the person who was abused. It is not about the offender, the institution, or anyone’s reputation.

It is about helping a child.

• People can learn. In the ten years since establishment of the Charter we have moved from disbelief to action. We have learned that what once seemed unbelievable, is, unfortunately, credible and must be faced. Training, reference checks, and background evaluations are a normal part of parish life to keep children safe. We recommend these steps for all who deal with youth.

• Sexual abuse of a minor is a sickness that can be contained through vigilance but will not disappear. Incidents of sexual abuse are still occurring in the one place that ought to be the safest place. We cannot let our guard down. The work is not finished.

• Critical situations impel people and institutions to change. We have seen the culture of our parishes and schools evolve. People now accept that child sexual abuse exists and are willing to help stop it from occurring. They no longer assume someone else will take care of it.

• Child sexual abuse is a reality society must confront. No institution is immune from it. Learning to respond to the victim of abuse is the first job of any institution, community or family.

• The court of public opinion holds institutional leaders to a high standard. Leaders who forgo an immediate and appropriate response to abuse of a child do so at their own peril. There is hardly any other issue which evokes such intolerance as not acting in the face of child sexual abuse.

• Parents are willing to step up and make sure parishes and schools are following policies and procedures to protect children. With this critical issue, few people reply “I just don’t have time to get involved.”

• The task of protecting children can be shared. Clergy, employees, volunteers, parents, teachers realize that bystanders can be their allies in protecting children.

• Child sexual abuse is a hard topic to discuss, but training adults to protect children has given the topic a forum where the uncomfortable reality can be discussed .

• Victims of child sexual abuse can heal and live productive lives. Steps that help bring them toward healing include seriously listening to their stories and expressing profound sorrow for what they have endured. As awful as the experience has been for a person, there is hope, a gift of grace from a loving God. --Bernard Nojadera is a deacon and head of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for the Protection of Children and Young People.

VIRTUS® is registered trademark of National Catholic Services, LLC. (“National Catholic”) in the United States. Protecting God’s Children® and A Plan to Protect God’s Children™ are trademarks of National Catholic. National Catholic has licensed use of its Protecting God’s Children™ programs to the Diocese of Winona (“Diocese”). National Catholic owns the copyrights in the artwork and substantive text appearing in this brochure. In addition, National Catholic has authorized the Diocese to distribute the artwork and text in this brochure to employees and volunteers of the Diocese. Neither the artwork nor text may be reproduced or further distributed in any form or manner, without the prior written permission of National Catholic. Please feel free to contact National Catholic for more information about its products and services. You may contact: Pat Neal Director of the VIRTUS Programs and Services VIRTUS Programs 3114 E. 81st Street, Suite 101 Tulsa, OK 74137 888-847-8870 ©2002-2010 by National Catholic Services, LLC. All rights reserved.

A Statement Concerning the Release of the John Jay Study Priests WINONA, MN – December 16, 2013 – In 2002, the National Review Board commissioned the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to conduct a blind study to determine the nature and scope of child sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Each diocese in the United States was contacted by John Jay College and was required to report the number of priests within its diocese who had “credible” accusations of abuse.

The national study required the report of any accusation that was not implausible (see definition below). This included allegations that did not necessarily result in a criminal, civil or diocesan investigation and allegations that were unsubstantiated.

The national study defined an implausible allegation as one that could not possibly have happened under the given circumstances (e.g., an accusation is made to a bishop about a priest who never served at that diocese). The study went on to say that erroneous information does not necessarily make the allegation implausible (e.g., a priest arrived at the diocese a year after the alleged abuse, but all other facts of the case are credible and the alleged victim might have mistaken the date).

Allegations that were determined not to be “implausible” have since been referred to as “credible” accusations.

The methodology of the national study encouraged over-reporting and the study specifically directed each diocese not to engage in the endeavor of weighing the credibility of any of the accusations out of concern that the data produced by the study would arguably be invalid because of subjective determinations as to the credibility of, or substantiation of, the allegation(s).

The national study concluded that approximately 4% of priests in ministry in the United States had accusations of abuse made against them. The study also found that the annual number of incidents of sexual abuse of minors by priests increased steadily to a peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s and then declined sharply after 1985.

The Ramsey County District Court has ordered that the Diocese of Winona publicly release the names associated with the John Jay College Study, as well any other priests who have had accusations of child sexual abuse since 2004. In compliance with that Order, the Diocese of Winona hereby releases the following names, ages, places of ministry, ministerial status and current location of each priest associated with the John Jay Study, as well as the same information of those who have been accused of perpetrating sexual abuse against a minor since 2002.

Thirteen John Jay Study Priests Thomas P. Adamson - Permanently removed from ministry in 1984; laicized 2009.

Sylvester F. Brown - Deceased 2010.

Joseph C. Cashman - Permanently removed from ministry in 1992; laicization pending in Canonical Tribunal.

Louis G. Cook - Deceased 2004.

William D. Curtis - Deceased 2001.

John R. Feiten - Deceased 2001.

Richard E. Hatch - Deceased 2005.

Ferdinand L. Kaiser - Deceased 1973.

Jack L. Krough - Permanently removed from ministry in 2002; laicization pending in Canonical Tribunal.

Michael J. Kuisle - Deceased 1971.

James W. Lennon -Deceased 2000.

Leland J. Smith - Permanently removed from ministry in 1994; laicization pending in Canonical Tribunal.

Robert H. Taylor - Deceased 2012.

Priests Accused of Abuse after 2004 Leo Charles Koppala - Administrative leave pending outcome of criminal proceedings in Faribault County, MN.*

Frequently Asked Questions Q. What should a person do if he or she recognizes a name on the list and has concerns about further risks the man may pose?

A. Any concerns should be conveyed to law enforcement and the proper civil authorities. In addition, he or she is encouraged to notify Terri Wintering, the diocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator at (507) 454-2270, ext. 255.

Q. Have any of these men been permanently removed from the priesthood (laicized)?

A. Nine of the thirteen priests on the list are deceased. One priest has been laicized in 2007, the other three priests are currently going through the laicization process in our tribunal. When the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” was promulgated in 2002, the decision was made to impose severe restrictions and monitor these offending priests rather than seek laicization — removal from the priesthood altogether — based on a desire by the diocese to oversee these men versus placing them outside of the Church and unsupervised as lay citizens who would have no restrictions.

This was an earnest effort to be responsible.

Q. What is the threshold for removing a priest from active ministry?

A. If the diocese receives a credible claim of sexual abuse of a minor, a priest will be removed from active ministry. These restrictions stay in place until an investigation determines whether or not the claim is substantiated. If a claim is determined to be substantiated, he will remain restricted until any criminal or canonical proceedings are concluded.

Q. Why was permission required from the court to release the names?

A. There has been a protective order in place in Ramsey County District Court since 2009 related to a list of 13 priests provided by the diocese to the John Jay Commission. That list was used to compile a nationwide summary of “credible” claims of clergy abuse of minors. The court order to seal this list applied to all parties, including the archdiocese.

Q. Is this the extent of the disclosure of names? Is it possible more names could be added after the review of clergy files?

A. We have reported all names currently know to have allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. If the Diocese of Winona learns of additional credible claims whether from the review of the clergy files from outside experts or otherwise, the disclosures will be updated on our website.

Q. How often will additional names be disclosed?

A. Whenever the Diocese of Winona learns of additional credible claims of abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy, the diocese will share that information first with law enforcement and then with the public by issuing and posting a press release.

Q. Have there been any reports of child sexual abuse since 2004?

A. Yes. There are proceedings that are ongoing in Faribault County involving allegations of child sexual abuse by an international priest who was serving at Saints Peter and Paul parish in Blue Earth. Fr. Koppala has been suspended from active ministry pending the outcome of that trial. When the allegations were made the diocese immediately suspended Fr. Koppala and issued a press release. Bishop Quinn also went to Fr. Koppala’s parish to speak with the parishioners.

a Prayer fOr Healing VictimS Of abuSe God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just: You gave your only Son to save us by the blood of his cross.

*See detailed list on the diocesan website.

Complete Safe Environment program details and policies can be viewed on the diocesan website, www.dow.org, follow the link on the right side of the page titled “Keeping Our Promise to Protect”. The Disclosure Regarding Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors can be found by following the “Victims Assistance and Advocacy” link.

Q. Can priests with substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor against them ever be put back into active ministry?

A. No priest who has sexually abused a minor can ever return to active ministry. When an accusation of is made against a priest, the matter is thoroughly investigated by the review board of the Diocese of Winona. If the determination by the review board that the claim is substantiated, the priest is indefinitely suspended from active ministry. Ultimately though, a finaldetermination is made through a criminal or canonical process. If not enough evidence is presented to support an accusation, the priest may return to active ministry. All allegations of child sexual abuse reported to the Diocese of Winona are immediately reported to law enforcement.