St. John’s Abbey releases monks’ files in abuse settlement

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — St. John’s Abbey has released personnel files of 18 monks it says were credibly accused of sexually abusing minors.

The release Tuesday is part of St. John’s settlement last spring with a St. Paul man who says he was abused by a monk when he was a 14-year-old prep school student in 1977.

Minnesota Public Radio News (http://bit.ly/1Kpdzy0 ) says the files include the monks’ personal correspondence, psychological evaluations and work assignments. Abbot John Klassen says the release is the latest step toward transparency and credibility with those who have been harmed.

The settlement with St. John’s forced it to release the internal files of monks accused of sexually abusing minors.

The abbey is part of a 2,700-acre property in Collegeville that includes St. John’s University and St. John’s Preparatory School.

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Information from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mprnews.org