St. John's Abbey admits errors in priest statement

St. John's Abbey is apologizing for what it says were errors in a public statement about the work history and whereabouts of an abbey monk accused of sexual abuse.

The Collegeville-based abbey apologized in a letter Tuesday in the St. Cloud Times. The newspaper had uncovered inconsistencies between the statement and other abbey publications concerning various whereabouts of the Rev. Francisco Schulte after 1992, when abbey officials learned of sexual abuse allegations against him.

The abbey now acknowledges that Schulte was not under supervision in Collegeville from 1992 to 2002, as officials there initially said. But they say he was monitored as he spent time in the Bahamas and Rome.

Schulte is now living in abbey facilities in Collegeville where officials say he is under supervision.

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Information from: St. Cloud Times

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