By Gabby Landsverk, Staff Writer
Anonymous victims from Randall and Kimball filed lawsuits Tuesday morning against the St. Cloud Diocese and their local parishes following new allegations of childhood abuse by now-deceased priest Father Donald Rieder.
The two women, who were not named to protect their safety, alleged that they were sexually abused by Rieder while he was serving in St. James Parish in Randall and St. Anne’s Parish in Kimball.
Attorneys Jeff Anderson and Mike Bryant, speaking on behalf of the victims, said they have filed charges of negligence, citing the diocese and parishes for knowing about previous allegations of sexual misconduct against Rieder and failing to prevent his continued access to children through his ministry.
Rieder was convicted in 2003 after pleading guilty to sexual abuse of a minor, served a year in jail and was removed from active ministry, according to the St. Cloud Diocese and other sources.
At that time, Rieder faced a total of nine allegations of abuse of girls between age 11 and 15, according to a previous report from the St. Cloud Times.
However, many of the victims did not come forward with allegations until adulthood, years after the abuse occurred, Anderson said. As a result, their cases fell outside the statute of limitations and did not result in charges.
“The diocese hid behind the statute of limitations. They refused to disclose the file of Rieder … and other offenders,” Anderson said.
One such survivor is Susan Fuchs-Hoeschen, now employed as a trauma therapist, who works to advocate for victims of similar abuse.
Fuchs-Hoeschen said she came forward with abuse allegations against Rieder in the 1990s, but was told that the statute of limitations prevented charges from being brought against the priest.
“I did not feel in the ‘90s that the truth was really told,” she said.
She recounted being abused by Rieder at St. James Parish at age 11, while her mother taught religion class in the next room.
“(Rieder) had access to children in the darkened church,” Fuchs-Hoeschen said. “Others told me … (there were) even people that were sexually violated at the communion rail.”
The diocese allegedly agreed to remove Rieder from service after complaints from the victims’ parents, but it was later found that he was moved to another parish, Fuchs-Hoeschen said.
Anderson and Fuchs-Hoeschen stated, based on previous accusations, that Rieder was engaged in predatory behavior from the 1960s to his conviction in 2003.
During that time, Rieder moved from parish to parish, serving in no fewer than 10 communities before he retired in St. Cloud in 1996, including St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, St. Stanislaus in Sobieski as well as St. James in Randall.
While he was removed from active ministry after his conviction in 2003, he remained in the priesthood and died in 2013 at the age of 88, still in good standing with the church, Anderson said.
“That begs the question, how many more survivors of Donald Rieder and other priests like him are still suffering in secrecy and silence?” Anderson asked.
Bryant added that the information withheld by the church included details that could be used to help other survivors or prevent future instances of abuse.
“The reality is, the files aren’t out there, we don’t know all the names,” Bryant said. “We should know about every one of (the abuse cases) that exists in the state, and that’s what our goal is.”
Anderson also said that the diocese’s previous policy of holding public listening sessions has not gone far enough in addressing allegations of abuse.
“If (the diocese) really cared, they would take action and disclose those files,” Anderson said.
Between the two cases, multiple charges of nuisance, negligence, negligent supervision and negligent retention have been brought against the St. Cloud Diocese. Both St. James Parish and St. Anne’s Parish are facing one count each of negligence, negligent supervision and negligent retention.
The diocese sent out a news release Tuesday, stating it has not yet had an opportunity to review the complaints and so cannot comment.
According to the news release, Bishop Donald Kettler will hold additional listening sessions for affected parish communities, with specific locations and dates to be determined.
Kettler encouraged all victims of abuse to come forward and provided contact information for victim advocates as well as a link to an online copy of the diocese’s sexual misconduct policy.
St. James Parish declined to comment on the charges.
The plaintiffs are demanding more than $50,000 in damages against the defendants as well as an order that the diocese publicly release the history of abuse of each credibly accused member of the clergy, including relevant documents from the Diocese of Duluth.
“The sad news is this saga of concealment is not isolated to this diocese,” Anderson said, alluding to patterns of suppressing “painful truths” to avoid scandal within the church. “Secrecy and deception of the public remains alive,” he said.
Anderson said he hopes the charges will bring the full truth of sexual misconduct by local priests to light, give closure to survivors and prevent future victims.
“We applaud the courage of these women in coming forward,” Anderson said. “It gives us great hope that armed with the courage of these survivors like (Fuchs-Hoeschen) and these Jane Does, we can make a difference.”