Lawsuits allege sexual abuse by NU Diocese priest

The Rev. David A. Roney, who died in January, is named in two complaints

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The Catholic Diocese of New Ulm has been named in two lawsuits against a deceased priest who served the Diocese for 36 years.

The complaints, dated Jan. 13, 2003, relate to the alleged sexual misconduct of the late David A. Roney with two female minors. The alleged incidents took place when he was pastor of the Church of St. Mary in Willmar, from 1967-1980. The church was also named in the court summons and complaints.

The lawsuits have not been filed yet in Brown County District Court, according to the Diocese.

St. Paul attorney Jeffrey Anderson, representing the victims who are identified as Jane Does, described the situation via telephone from Los Angeles Monday. He said that papers were served, but he has not received a response from the Diocese.

"Roney came into by consciousness some time ago as a priest that was a serial predator," Anderson said. "Based on our investigation, there are other victims. The Diocese had clear knowledge that Roney posed a risk of harm but never did much about it."

According to the 13-count complaints claiming sexual abuse, sexual battery, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent supervision, negligent retention, negligence, vicarious liability, and fiduciary fraud, the victims came to know, trust, admire, respect and revere Roney as a Roman Catholic priest, a counselor and spiritual advisor who used their trust to engage in sexual contact with him.

Sexual abuse occurred with one of the plaintiffs in St. Mary's Church, primarily in Roney's office. For the other plaintiff, the abuse took place in the church, St. Mary's school and the rectory, the complaint said.

The Diocese and St. Mary's Church knew or should have known of Roney's unfitness to serve as a priest and fraudulently concealed this knowledge and failed to act to protect the plaintiffs, causing further harm to them ... and failed to take reasonable measures to properly supervise Roney, according to the complaint.

The sexual abuse caused the victims to develop various psychological coping mechanisms and symptoms of psychological distress, including repression and other means whereby they did not have a true awareness of the sexual abuse and exploitation until ... about August 2002, the complaint said.

As a direct result of the sexual abuse and exploitation, the plaintiffs suffered and continue to suffer severe emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, humiliation, and psychological injuries with attendant physical manifestations ... preventing them from performing normal daily activities and obtaining the full enjoyment of life ... loss of earning capacity and have incurred and will continue to incur expenses for medical and psychological treatment, therapy and counseling, according to the complaint.

Each lawsuit demands judgement in excess of $50,000 plus costs, disbursements, reasonable attorneys fees, interest, and whatever other relief the Court deems just and equitable.

The Rev. Douglas Grams, a delegate to Bishop John C. Nienstedt of the New Ulm Diocese, said two previous lawsuits naming Roney, St. Mary's Church and the Diocese have been settled.

According to a Diocese news release, allegations of Roney's sexual misconduct came to the attention of the Diocese in 1987. As a result, Roney underwent a psychological evaluation and received two years of psychotherapy.

In April 2002, Nienstedt and the Diocesan Review Board for Sexual Misconduct reviewed the issue and recommended Roney's pastoral duties be terminated and no further active ministry assignments be given. Nienstedt issued a decree putting Roney on administrative leave without faculties.

Roney was ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis in August of 1945. His assignments in the archdiocese include assistant pastor, St. Mary Basilica, Minneapolis, 1945-1952; Church of St. Francis, St. Croix Beach, 1952-1955; Church of St. John-Assumption, Faxon Township, 1955-1957.

The Diocese of New Ulm was formed in 1957. Roney's assignments in the New Ulm Diocese were Church of St. Paul, Walnut Grove, 1958-1963; Church of St. Francis, Benson, 1963-1967; Church of St. Mary, Willmar, 1967-1980; and Church of St. Gregory the Great, Lafayette, 1980-1993.

Roney served as director of the San Lucas Mission Office and Director of the Propagation of the Faith for the Diocese of New Ulm. He retired from active ministry in 1993 and had lived in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, since 1994.

Roney died Jan. 27, 2003, at the age of 82.

The Diocese of New Ulm serves 82 parishes and 70,039 Catholics in 15 counties in Southwestern Minnesota. Its safe environment program educates clergy, teachers, parents and students and helps them identify and prevent sexual misconduct, according to the news release.

The Diocese is committed to offer help and healing to anyone who has been a victim of sexual misconduct. It has been strengthening its systems and procedures to address the issue, the release said.

Anyone who has suffered sexual abuse, exploitation, or harassment by a priest, deacon, pastor or pastoral administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm is asked to report it to the Victim Assistance Coordinator or the Bishop's Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct, 1400 Sixth Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073. For more information, call 507-359-2966 or visit: http://www.dnu.org