Archdiocese releases more names of clergy accused of sex abuse

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis has released the names of five more clergy members who were accused of sexually abusing minors.

All five men, three priests and two monks, are dead. The archdiocese said in a statement that all the incidents occurred more than 25 years ago.

None of the men's names had previously been disclosed by the Twin Cities archdiocese, even though media reports had named two of them previously and one former cleric had been convicted of sexual misconduct. The St. Cloud diocese named one of the priests on a list of clerics who likely abused minors.

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The newest disclosures come following a review of all the archdiocese's personnel files that concluded in April. Claims that are substantiated by the archdiocese are being shared with law enforcement, according to a statement from the archdiocese.

"The archdiocese will continue to make prudent and ongoing disclosures if additional information is found," the statement said. "We recognize that timely disclosure is important to safeguard children and youth and we are committed to making timely disclosure if a member of the clergy is accused of abuse."

Ramsey County Judge John Van de North ordered the archdiocese last year to release the names of accused priests on a previously sealed list. The archdiocese released those names on Dec. 5.

Archdiocese leaders have declined to be interviewed on how they determine if an allegation is substantiated.

The archdiocese did not provide any details about specific allegations against the men.

The list released Thursday includes:

Stephen Baker, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular, who served at St. Patrick in Inver Grove Heights from 1977 to 1981. Baker left the archdiocese in the early 1980s and died in 2013.

Edmund Frost, a member of the Dominican Order, served at St. Albert the Great in Minneapolis from 1964 to 1975. He left the archdiocese in 1975. Frost died sometime before 2006, according to the archdiocese. He was previously identified in reporting from MPR News.

Robert Ruglovsky served at St. John the Baptist in Minneapolis, but was removed from ministry after pleading guilty to six counts of criminal sexual conduct in 1987. He died in 2006.

Justin Weger worked at a number of parishes in the archdiocese from 1970 to 1972. He served at St. Stephen in Minneapolis, St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake, the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis and provided ministry to the Native American community. Archdiocese officials say he was removed from ministry in 1972 and removed from his religious order in 1976. He died in 2005. He was previously identified by MPR News.

Francis Zachman served as a pastor at Assumption in Richfield from 1973 to 1981. He also worked as an administrator at St. Albert in Albertville, served at St. George in Long Lake and was associate pastor at St. Casimir in St. Paul. He died in 1983.