MPR News
19 May 2015
Madeleine Baran
The Rev. Gerald Dvorak, pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church in Richfield, Minn., has taken a leave of absence following an allegation that he sexually abused a minor in the 1970s, according to a statement from Archbishop John Nienstedt released Tuesday.
Nienstedt called the allegation “credible” but did not provide details. “A ‘credible allegation’ is one that is ‘not manifestly false or frivolous.’ It is not a presumption of guilt,” he wrote.
In a separate two-line statement, also released by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Dvorak denied the allegation. “I pray for all victims of sexual abuse, but I have never abused anyone,” he wrote. “Please pray for me and all those involved.”
Dvorak, 61, could not be reached for comment. He did not immediately respond to a phone message on Tuesday.
Tom Halden, the director of the archdiocese’s communications office, said Nienstedt was unavailable for an interview. He also declined to explain when and how Nienstedt learned of the allegation.
In his statement, Nienstedt said, “Law enforcement has been notified.” Halden declined to provide the name of the law enforcement agency, the person who reported it, or the date it was reported.
St. Paul Police Department spokesperson Steve Linders said police have no record of any report of abuse by Dvorak. In Richfield, where Dvorak has been serving as pastor since 2011, police also have no record of any report of abuse, according to Richfield Deputy Police Chief Mike Koob. The Minneapolis Police Department also has no record of a report, according to spokesperson John Elder.
The archdiocese hasn’t said where the abuse allegedly happened. In a letter to parishioners at St. Peter on Tuesday, Deacon Mark Johanns said Dvorak “has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor from when he was a seminarian in the 1970s. That is the only accusation against him in all of his years in ministry.”
Dvorak was ordained a priest in the Twin Cities archdiocese in 1985 and has served at eight parishes, according to an assignment history released by the archdiocese. Dvorak’s current assignment — as pastor of St. Peter in Richfield — began July 1, 2011.
He previously served as canonical administrator of Blessed Trinity Catholic School from July 2011 to July 2014, pastor of St. Joseph in Hopkins from September 2002 to July 2011, pastor of St. Michael in St. Paul from June 1989 to September 2002, parochial administrator of St. Andrew in St. Paul from January 1989 to June 1989, parochial administrator of Holy Cross in Minneapolis from October 1987 to June 1989, spiritual director of the local branch of the Legion of Mary from March 1987 to June 1989, parochial administrator of Saint Cyril in Minneapolis from June 1986 to March 1987, assistant priest of Holy Cross in Minneapolis from June 1984 to June 1989, and assistant priest of the Cathedral of St. Paul from June 1979 to June 1984.
Before he was ordained, Dvorak served as a “teaching parish seminarian” at St. Matthew in St. Paul from 1978 to 1979, according to the archdiocese.
Dvorak “will not exercise priestly ministry during the investigation,” Nienstedt wrote in his statement. “We are in the process of notifying the previous parishes where he was assigned. Rev. Dvorak has never had any other allegations against him during his ministry.”
___________________________________________
CHURCH OF SAINT PETER
May 19, 2015
Church of St. Peter
6730 Nicollet Ave South
Richfield, MN 55423
Dear St. Peter’s Parishioners,
Bishop Andrew Cozzens came to Mass the morning of May 19, 2015 to let us know that Father Dvorak has taken a leave of absence from the parsh. The news comes as an enormous shock to all of us. He has been accusedof sexual abuse of a minor from when he was a seminarian in the 1970’s. That is the only accusation against him in all of his years of ministry. Father Dvorak says he has never abused anyone and has never broken his vow of celibacy. He asks that we pray for him, as he continues to pray for all of us.
In the meantime, the Archdiocese is working on assigning a priest to help us continue day-to-day parish operations and make sure the Sacraments are available to all who need them. One of the bishops or someone else from the Archdiocese will be celebrating all the Masses here this coming weekend (May 23-24; 4:30 PM, 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM) and will answer any questions or address any concerns you may have
You and your families may also encounter the news media over the next few days as they cover this story. For everyone’s protection, we are requesting that reporters and photographers stay off church and school property. We are also working with the Richfield Police Department to make sure any media presence does not create safety problems or other distractions.
During this very difficult time, please pray for Father Dvorak, all victims of abuse, and for each other. It is only with God’s help that we willmake it through trials like this.
Deacon Mark Johanns
__________________________________________
Statement Regarding Rev. Gerald Dvorak
Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis website
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Source: Tom Halden, Director of Communications
From Archbishop John Nienstedt, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis has received a credible allegation that the Rev. Gerald Dvorak, pastor of St. Peter in Richfield, sexually abused a minor in the 1970s. A “credible allegation” is one that is “not manifestly false or frivolous.” It is not a presumption of guilt. Law enforcement has been notified and, per our protocol, Rev. Dvorak is on a leave of absence and will not exercise priestly ministry during the investigation. We are in the process of notifying the previous parishes where he was assigned. Rev. Dvorak has never had any other allegations against him during his ministry.
_______________________________________
Statement from Rev. Gerald Dvorak
Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis website
CONTACT
Tom Halden
Director of Communications
T: 651-291-4525
haldent@archspm.org
May 19, 2015
“I pray for all victims of sexual abuse, but I have never abused anyone. Please pray for me and all those involved.”
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Presumably the allegations have been reported to police, however, from what I read here, I think this unfortunately may be a state in which the Statute of Limitations bars proceeding criminally?. I hope that is not the case but fear that it is. Does anyone know with certainty?
A quick comment regarding the Deacon’s letter to St. Peter’s parishioners:
A strange statement. Did Father Dvorak really and truly say that?
Father Dvorak is a diocesan priest. It is priests in religious orders (ie. Jesuits, Dominicans) who take vows, and in that instance, depending on the order, the vows are generally those of poverty, chastity and obedience. There is no such thing as a vow of celibacy for any priest, even those who are ordered priests.
Diocesan/secular priests (in the Latin rite) make a promise of celibacy. They are obliged to abide by the Church discipline of celibacy.
Celibacy is a Church discipline whereby all men who are ordained to the priesthood in the Latin Rite agree/promise to abide by the Church discipline not to marry. There seems to be no indication that Father Dvorak married. There does seem to be a possibility that he has not remained chaste – that however is not a violation of a vow, because he did not take a vow of chastity – he is, however, as are all priests – and for that matter, all of us – expected to live a chaste life.