In May of 2006, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, along with Saint John’s Abbey, misled the public regarding misconduct by Father Robert Blumeyer.
Consider:
1. Despite detailed reports (from 1976, 1997 and 2005), provided by two separate victims, the Archdiocese and Abbey claimed that Blumeyer had only one victim.
2. Neither the Archdiocese nor the Abbey disclosed that at least one of the victims reported being photographed naked.
3. Neither the Archdiocese nor the Abbey disclosed that one of the victims reported being molested by one or more of Blumeyer’s associates.
4. Neither the Archdiocese nor the Abbey disclosed the existence of child pornography, including photos believed to be taken by Blumeyer — and discovered by church personnel in 1964 and 1978 [ View ].
In May of 2006, the Archdiocese and Abbey released this statement:
In September, 2005, a 50-year-old man informed the Victim Advocate of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis that he was sexually abused as a young man by the late Father Robert Blumeyer, 0.S.B., a priest of the St. John’s monastic community. The report has been deemed credible.
The abuse began in 1969 when the victim was 13 and Father Blumeyer was assistant pastor at St. Bartholomew parish in Wayzata and continued for approximately ten years while Father Blumeyer served in pastoral roles at St. Boniface Parish in Hastings and St. Benedict Parish in Avon, MN. Father Blumeyer died October 5. l983.
The Archdiocese and Abbey have paid for therapy for the man and he has accepted a financial settlement from St. John’s Abbey and the Archdiocese.
Neither the Archdiocese nor the Abbey knows of other allegations of abuse against Father Blumeyer.
In making this statement, Archbishop Harry Flynn and Abbot John Klassen express deep regret and remorse and reaffirm a commitment to assist this victim and other victims in their process of recovery and healing.
The victim advocate for the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese is Ms. Greta Sawyer: 651-291-4497.
The victim advocate for St. John’s Abbey is Gary Schoener at the Walk-In Counseling Center: 612-870-0565.
View Statement as a PDF… Here
