JULY 25, 2012
STATEMENT CONCERNING THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT RULING
ON ADAMSON LITIGATION
The Minnesota Supreme Court today has affirmed the district court’s decision to grant summary judgment in this case, based upon the expiration of the statute of limitations. The Court has recognized that the concept of repressed and recovered memory is not foundationally reliable and is not generally accepted within the scientific community, and properly excluded this type of evidence from being used to toll the statue of limitations.
The Diocese of Winona remains committed to ensuring the safety of children and young people who have been entrusted to our care in our parishes, schools, religious education classes, and other programs. The Diocese adheres to all sections of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in July of 2002, including the training of all of our priests, religious, lay staff, teachers, coaches and the children in our schools and religious education programs.
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JULY 26, 2012
STATEMENT REGARDING JEFFREY ANDERSON NEWS CONFERENCE
The Diocese of Winona is committed to the protection and safety of children and young people in its care. Sexual abuse of any human being is an unacceptable and horrendous offense. The Diocese acknowledges the mistakes we have made in the past in handling reports of sexual abuse and has worked since the 1980’s to implement stringent policies and procedures to protect children and young adults, contrary to Mr. Jeffrey Anderson and Mr. James Keenan’s recent claims that the Diocese has failed to do so. Additionally, any and all priests who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct of a minor in the Diocese of Winona are no longer in active ministry.
The Diocese of Winona proudly adheres to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in July of 2002, including the safe environment training of all of priests, deacons, religious, lay staff, teachers, coaches and the students in our schools and religious education programs. Even prior to the USCCB Charter, the Diocese of Winona proactively implemented child protection policies and procedures beginning as early as 1987.
The policies of the Diocese of Winona's "Safe Environment Program" are strictly implemented to ensure the safety of all those who have been entrusted to our care in our parishes, schools, religious education classes, and other programs. The Diocese thoroughly screens and supervises all members of the clergy (priests and deacons), employees and volunteers; provides training in recognizing and reporting child abuse to appropriate civil and Church authorities; and requires all those who work with children and young people to adhere to professional codes of conduct. All policies and procedures are available for public inspection at www.dow.org/Departments/Life/SafeEnvironmentProgram.
The Diocese of Winona is confident that our parishes, schools and programs are exceptionally safe places for all people.
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