Diocese answers questions about
Fr. Ryan Erickson
SUPERIOR -- The following is the full text of a statement issued by the Diocese of Superior to answer frequently asked questions about the Fr. Ryan Erickson case.
On Oct. 3, 2005, the St. Croix County Court John Doe Hearing found that there was probable cause to believe that Fr. Ryan Erickson committed two murders in Hudson, Wis. Prior to this hearing, the Diocese of Superior submitted all of its files on Erickson to the St. Croix County District Attorney. During the course of that hearing, several allegations were made as to what the diocese knew about Erickson. As a result, several "Frequently Asked Questions" surfaced as listed below.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Did the Diocese of Superior require a psychological evaluation of Erickson before he was admitted to the seminary?
As is standard practice for anyone who enters the seminary, an initial psychological evaluation had been performed in July of 1992. From this initial psychological screening, the diocese received a recommendation from the psychologist that Erickson was "problem free, appeared healthy, psychologically stable and would make an outstanding priest." Accordingly, he was recommended at that time for seminary training to the priesthood.
2. When did the diocese first learn of any allegations of Erickson's sexual misconduct?
In March of 1994, an investigator from the Vilas County district attorney's office phoned Bishop Raphael M. Fliss and the vocation director of the Diocese of Superior (Fr. Kevin Gordon). The district attorney's office was in the process of conducting an investigation concerning allegations against Erickson of improper sexual behavior some years prior to 1994.
3. How did the diocese respond to these allegations?
Immediately upon notification of the alleged complaint by the district attorney's investigator, the vocation director informed the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minn., and Erickson that the allegations existed. The rector of the seminary immediately removed Erickson from all apostolic work required by his seminary program while this allegation was being investigated. When the vocation director confronted Erickson, he vehemently denied this allegation.
4. Did the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary require that Erickson be evaluated?
After hearing these allegations, the rector of the seminary advised Erickson, with the prior approval of the Diocese of Superior, that he seek professional counseling and testing from a clinical psychologist in La Crosse, Wis. Erickson agreed to do this in March of 1994 and continued counseling and evaluation until May of 1996.
The conclusion of this evaluation was that he was a proper candidate for theological school and that he would be a thoughtful, hardworking and caring priest. As a result, the rector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary recommended that Erickson be allowed to continue in the seminary and to proceed to the school of theology.
5. What further action did the Vilas County district attorney's office take?
On July 13, 1994, Fliss and Gordon received correspondence from the district attorney notifying them that as a result of the district attorney's investigation, they had concluded the allegations against Erickson were uncorroborated and no charges were filed. While there was no process for Erickson to exonerate himself because no charges were filed, he continually denied that anything improper had occurred.
6. Were there any additional psychological evaluations required of Erickson?
As required by the admittance process at St. Paul Seminary School of Theology, Erickson was evaluated in September of 1996. The September 1996 psychological evaluation stated: "The allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior do not appear to be significant in the context of this gentleman's overall psychological makeup. He does not appear to be predatory or exploitative in his overall orientation and he does not seem to be a high risk for acting in a sexually aggressive or manipulative manner in the future. The alleged sexual misconduct behaviors he described to us appear to be benign."
That psychological evaluation indicated that Erickson was a heterosexual and that the major concern was that he might be vulnerable to women who would take romantic or affectionate initiatives with him.
Upon the conclusion of his theological studies, the rector and faculty of St. Paul Seminary recommended that he be ordained a priest.
7. Was any allegation received by the diocese of any improper sexual behavior between Erickson and any other person after he became a priest?
The diocese did not learn of any improper sexual behavior by Erickson until December 17, 2004, when the Hudson police officers, during their investigation, informed the diocese of allegations that Erickson sexually molested a minor while a priest and he had pornographic files on his computer.
8. Did the diocese, as directed by the Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, attempt to reach out to the alleged victim mentioned by the St. Croix County district attorney's office?
On Feb. 2, 2005, the diocesan attorney, upon the request of the Diocese of Superior, wrote to the St. Croix County district attorney asking for the name of this alleged victim so that the diocese could reach out to this alleged victim with an appropriate response as required by the Charter. As of this date, the district attorney has not responded to the diocese.
9. Was the Diocese of Superior ever aware of any events or issues that would indicate that Erickson would be capable of murder?
There certainly was no indication at any time that Erickson would be capable of the acts which the court has now found probable cause exists.
10. Has the Diocese of Superior held back any information that still needs to be released about Erickson?
In December of 2004, the Diocese of Superior sent the complete and total file on Erickson to Eric G. Johnson, St. Croix County District Attorney. Much of this information was stated in the John Doe proceedings.
11. Is it true that Fliss will soon be resigning as bishop?
Each bishop in the world is required to tender his resignation to the Holy Father upon reaching his 75th birthday. Fliss will write this letter on October 25, 2005 when he celebrates his 75th birthday.
12. What has been the bishop's reaction to all of these appalling events?
"In my role as bishop, I know that ultimate responsibility for much of what has taken place rests upon my shoulders. While I am truly sorry for not doing more to find out what really happened, I must apologize to the entire diocesan family and all the people of northern Wisconsin for these tragedies. I know the Lord is willing to forgive. I hope you will find it in your hearts to do the same."
Additional questions
The Catholic Herald asked two additional questions related to the Erickson case:
1. Why weren't the allegations against Erickson included in the John Jay College study of sexual abuse that was commissioned by the National Review Board established by the U.S. Bishops?
Fr. Philip Heslin, moderator of the curia, said that the report was to include only allegations about clergy. Erickson was still a seminarian at the time the alleged abuse in Vilas County occurred.
2. Have there been any changes made that might help prevent serious problems going unnoticed in the future?
In response Fliss mentioned two things. First, the process of complying with the charter has brought more attention to the subject of abuse and people are being encouraged to come forward and report any instances of abuse.
The other improvement, Fliss said, is the greater involvement of the laity in the church since the Second Vatican Council. It adds more checks and balances, he said, and more collaboration and cooperation and working together helps everyone feel more responsible for the church.
Disturbing news can affect people's faith
When there is disturbing news, like that surrounding the Erickson case, is there an impact on people's faith in God or in their trust of the church?
Fr. William C. Graham, Ph.D., director of Catholic Studies at The College of St. Scholastica, in Duluth, Minn., said, "I think that one of the things that we priests, and the bishops, must understand better is that our people are often Catholics not because of us, but in spite of us." He added that this was first said to the U.S. bishops by Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, former editor of Commonweal magazine, at their meeting in Dallas in 2003.
"I think they (the people) are acutely aware that (as Fliss said in his statement) there is shame and sorrow. While he (Erickson) was a priest, he was not the church," Graham said.
What should people in the church do to find comfort?
Graham said, "This is a time for us to pray the Lord's Prayer.
In it, Jesus instructs us to say "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." "We don't like that line much, because we want a better class of forgiveness than we (ourselves) can muster." He added that forgiving does not mean that there are no consequences. "Clearly there are consequences to this kind of activity, for both the church and the individual."
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005