Category Archives: John Klassen

St. John’s Abbey set to celebrate 50 years

Posted on October 20, 2011
Posted in Frank Kacmarcik, Hilary Thimmesh, John Klassen, Marcel Breuer

COLLEGEVILLE — It’s a house of worship that belongs to the ages. The monks of St. John’s Abbey will celebrate on Sunday the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Abbey and university church in Collegeville.

Top 20 Catholic Colleges

Posted on October 10, 2011
Posted in John Klassen, Robert Koopmann

St. John’s University was NOT named as one of the Top 20 Recommended Catholic Colleges by The Cardinal Newman Society. At least three of the top 20 share their campus with a Benedictine abbey.

Recent Feedback and Tips

Posted on October 7, 2011
Posted in Anthony Gorman, Anthony Smithwick, Bede Parry, Bruce Wollmering, Dan Ward, Daniel Durken, Francisco Schulte, Howard Oaks, Ian Dommer, Jim Phillips, John Klassen, Othmar Hohmann, Paschal Brisson, Pat Marker, Rene McGraw, Richard Eckroth, Robert Koopmann, Roman Paur, Tom Andert

Recently, visitors to the web site have provided information about Fr. Dan Ward, Fr. Othmar Hohmann, Fr. Agustin Cerezo, Br. Bernie Friedl, Fr. Timothy Kelly, Fr. Robert Koopman, Br. Paschal Brisson, Fr. Bruce Wollmering, Fr. Ian Dommer, Fr. Francisco Schulte, … Continue reading →

Regents endorse plan to split SJU from abbey

Posted on October 7, 2011
Posted in John Klassen, Robert Koopmann

“The university will remain as a major educational and pastoral work of the abbey, and the monks of St. John’s will remain a vital part of the university.”

The Saint John’s Bible: Final Pages Unveiled

Posted on September 17, 2011
Posted in John Klassen, Robert Koopmann, St. John's Bible

“There were times when we thought this day would never come, but we’d absolutely do it again because it’s such a great work of both art and spirituality, and it’s capable of profoundly moving the people who use it and … Continue reading →

An Update from Abbot John Klassen

Posted on June 22, 2011
Posted in ISTI, Jerome Thiesen, John Klassen, PR Machine, Timothy Kelly

[Webmaster’s Note: Abbot John Klassen is deliberately misleading the Saint John’s community with this latest update regarding Abbot Timothy Kelly. ISTI was, and continues to be, a public relations tool created by Saint John’s in the wake of numerous allegations … Continue reading →

Onetime priest crusades for abuse victims suing Catholic Church

Posted on June 19, 2011
Posted in Bahamas, Jeff Anderson, Jerome Thiesen, John Klassen, Patrick Wall, Paul Richards, Timothy Kelly

(CNN) – As a young man studying for the priesthood, Patrick Wall imagined life as a professor and football coach at a Catholic university. It didn’t work out that way. Two decades later, Wall has not only left the Catholic Church, … Continue reading →

St. John’s Abbot Responds to Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Posted on June 16, 2011
Posted in Jeff Anderson, John Klassen, Richard Sipe, Timothy Kelly

(St. Joseph Newsleader) In a statement released on the St. John’s Abbey website last week, Abbot John Klassen said he and other members of the abbey were “shocked” to hear allegations that former Abbot Timothy Kelly, who died last fall, … Continue reading →

Klassen releases statement about sexual abuse claim against former abbot

Posted on June 9, 2011
Posted in Jeff Anderson, John Klassen, Patrick Wall, Richard Sipe, Timothy Kelly

“Contrary to Abbot Klassen’s accusations in his statement, we (filed the lawsuit) only because Saint John’s had already been made aware of the charges nearly six months ago and failed to investigate it, respond to it, or disclose it,” Anderson’s … Continue reading →

Jeff Anderson Responds to St. John’s Abbot

Posted on June 9, 2011
Posted in Jeff Anderson, John Klassen, Richard Sipe, SG, Timothy Kelly

Having just read the statement [ View ]  released today by Abbot John Klassen on behalf of the Abbey of Saint John’s, I am alarmed and deeply sad.

Statement from Abbot John Klassen Regarding Timothy Kelly

Posted on June 9, 2011
Posted in BS, John Klassen, Timothy Kelly

Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are morally reprehensible.  Saint John’s Abbey works honestly and openly with victims of sexual abuse and their attorneys to do all we can to correct the grievous wrongs that have been committed in the past … Continue reading →

Vatican Alerted to Timothy Kelly’s Misconduct in March

Posted on June 7, 2011
Posted in Dan Ward, John Klassen, Pat Marker, Review Board, Timothy Kelly

“As we discussed, I believe that misconduct by men such as Father Dan Ward and Abbot Timothy Kelly as perpetrators, and perhaps even more as concealers of misconduct perpetrated by others, have destroyed the integrity of the institution and the … Continue reading →

Abbot Kelly Covered Up Misconduct by Fr. Gillespie

Posted on June 5, 2011
Posted in Dan Ward, John Klassen, Thomas Gillespie, Timothy Kelly

[Update: On November 24, 2015, files were released with information about this matter. Please view the update… Here ] When Fr. Thomas Gillespie was yanked from the Catholic church in Saint Joseph, Minnesota on February 23, 1996, replacement priest Fr. … Continue reading →

Letter to Br. Paul-Vincent Niebauer

Posted on May 11, 2011
Posted in Dan Ward, Jerome Tupa, John Klassen, Paul-Vincent Niebauer, Tom Andert

“I sometimes feel that the abbey has used us who were notorious offenders as scapegoats for the sexual dysfunction that was more widespread in the community. I am willing to take responsibility for my actions but I am not the entire cause of … Continue reading →

Paul Richards Talks the Talk

Posted on May 4, 2011
Posted in Francisco Schulte, John Klassen, Paul Richards

Br. Paul Richards, sub-prior and spokesperson for Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota recently commented [ View ] on allegations of misconduct by Fr. Francisco Schulte after a lawsuit was filed against Fr. Schulte in Puerto Rico on Monday, alleging abuse … Continue reading →

St. Ben’s Response Self-Serving

Posted on May 3, 2011
Posted in Ann Marie Biermaier, Dan Ward, Dunstan Moorse, John Klassen, Nancy Bauer

During a ten minute phone call on Monday, April 25, 2011, Sister Ann Marie Biermaier was made aware that allegations of sexual misconduct (by her) had surfaced, involving a minor in the 1970s. Over the next eight days, the Sisters of … Continue reading →

More Lies, BS from Abbot Klassen

Posted on April 29, 2011
Posted in BS, John Klassen, PR Machine

“I want to assure you that I am doing everything I possibly can to be open and transparent…” – Abbot John Klassen, Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota (USA) “Bullshit!” – Patrick Marker, Webmaster, BehindThePineCurtain.com

Abbot Klassen Email Regarding WCCO News

Posted on April 28, 2011
Posted in John Klassen, PR Machine

Dear Members of Saint John’s and Saint Benedict’s Communities, We have received word via a teaser on WCCO last evening (Wednesday, April 27) that there will be a segment on tonight’s 10:00 PM program which may relate to sexual misconduct … Continue reading →

Klassen/Abbey Continue to Deceive

Posted on April 26, 2011
Posted in Allen Tarlton, Andre Bennett, Brennan Maiers, Bruce Wollmering, Cosmas Dahlheimer, Dunstan Moorse, Finian McDonald, Fran Hoefgen, Francisco Schulte, Isaac Connolly, James Kelly, Jim Phillips, John Eidenschink, John Kelly, John Klassen, Michael Bik, Paschal Brisson, Pirmim Wendt, Richard Eckroth, Robert Blumeyer, SG, Steve Lilly, Thomas Gillespie

In 2006, the student newspaper at St. John’s featured an article [ View ] about sexual abuse by the monks at St. John’s Abbey. The article referenced research showing that “more monks will be named and more victims will come forward”. … Continue reading →

Email to Incoming Prioress and Others

Posted on April 25, 2011
Posted in Ann Marie Biermaier, John Klassen, Michaela Hedican, Othmar Hohmann, St. Ben's, St. Benedict's, Susan Sink

On Wednesday, I learned that the “issue” was being discussed at the monastery and that “they” were “deciding what to do.” I passed this information along to the victim.