* There was a misstatement in the article on St. John’s in Collegeville, Minn. (NCR, Dec. 13). I served as the first chair of the board of St. John’s Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute in 1994-96. I did feel that the commission of the institute was eventually “compromised,” as the author notes, but certainly not because “one of the board members was an alleged abuser.” When I entered office I was fully aware that several of the board members were survivors of abuse and others were recovered offenders along with the health care professionals and pastoral theologians. I have unqualified and continued respect for the members of the board.
The commission to the board was compromised precisely by internal efforts to keep secret the facts that Abbot Klassen revealed on April 15. Additional complaints of abuse by monks came to me as chair of the board. They were handled by former Abbot Kelly in a way not compatible with the stated policy of the sponsoring institution or the standards articulated by the board. Abbot Klassen should be commended for effecting the leadership that the institute originally envisioned.
A.W. RICHARD SIPE
La Jolla, Calif.
COPYRIGHT 2002 National Catholic Reporter
St. John’s Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute
A misstatement – Letters – St. John’s Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute membership – Letter to the Editor – Correction Notice
National Catholic Reporter, Dec 27, 2002 by A.W. Richard Sipe
