St. John’s To Mail Letter About Abuse To Alumni

COLLEGEVILLE (AP) - St. John's Abbey and the survivors of sexual misconduct by current and former abbey members have reached an agreement about the distribution of a letter signed by two survivors and Abbot John Klassen.

Writing the letter and distributing it to former students at St. John's Prep School in Collegeville was a key part of a settlement announced Monday that ended nine of 12 legal actions against the abbey.

However, the confusion soon developed about how to distribute the letter which names 17 current and former abbey members who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct.

The agreement jointly announced today calls for the abbey to send the letter to anyone who attended the school and has their address on file with the alumni office.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)