Probe Clears St. John’s Abbey Prior of Sex Abuse Allegations

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) - A six-month investigation has concluded the sexual abuse allegations against the former prior at St. John's Abbey were unsupported.

Reports say a former student at St. John's Preparatory School in Collegeville last summer accused the Rev. Thomas Andert of sexual abuse sometime between 1979 and 1980.

School officials said Thursday that an independent investigator reviewed contemporary records and documents, and obtained testimony from the former student's classmates and teachers, as well as other campus officials who worked at St. John's Abbey at the time the incidents are alleged to have occurred.

The investigation didn't find any support for the former student's allegations that he was sexually abused by Andert.

The school's external review board re-examined case and reached the conclusion that the allegations weren't supported.