A former deacon, that held top-ranking positions in agencies meant to protect children from abuse, has been named in a lawsuit, along with his former diocese, for sexual abuse, as reported by the St. Cloud Times on December 13.
The diocese is named for covering up the alleged abuse.
M.W., is being sued by a Virginia resident known as John Doe HT. Jeff Anderson represents Doe and announced the lawsuit filing during a press conference. The specific incident of abuse cited stems from a camping trip the boy's family took with other Catholic families in the summer of 1970.
Doe was 6 years old at the time of alleged the sexual abuse. M.W. was able to gain a friendship with the boy by offering him bubble gum. M.W. had earned the trust of the boy's parents as well - by being a deacon and wearing a priest's collar - and they allowed M.W. to have their boy stay with him in his tent overnight.
Per Doe, sometime during that night in M.W.'s tent, he was sexually abused. In the morning he ran from the tent screaming. He went to his parents and confessed what had transpired the night before.
The following day, the parents sought out D.C., a counselor - and friend of M.W.'s - employed at the Caritas Family Service Agency to discuss what had happened.
As stated in the lawsuit, D.C. allegedly told Doe's parents that M.W. was "sick and that he had been in counseling", "wasn't ready" and that D.C. himself had "gambled and lost." D.C. also admitted that M.W. had been treated for pedophilia.
D.C. has not responded to press for a comment, and he continues to be employed as a counselor. M.W. has also not returned several calls for comment.
News media were made aware of the lawsuit's allegations at the end of November and the diocese had a listening session on December 4. Another listening session has since been scheduled.
M.W. tendered his resignation with organizations he was currently affiliated with immediately following the allegations: his position as a board member of the Greater Twin Cities United Way and his role as president and CEO of Volunteers of America-Minnesota.
In the length of his career as a deacon, M.W. served in several positions of several different organizations associated with family services. Among his history M.W. was the director of Hennepin County Community Services Department, the assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, an associate director of the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, director of the Program for the Community Protection of Children and chairperson of the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect.
If you, or someone you hold dear, have been sexually abused by a member of the clergy, no matter what rank they held, you have grounds for a lawsuit. Monetary compensation is often awarded in a case such as this one, for pain and suffering as well as other tangible damages.