Statement Regarding Rev. Gerald Dvorak - Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Today, Rev. Gerald Dvorak returns to public ministry as the pastor of the Church of Saint Peter in Richfield.

In May of this year, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis received an allegation that the Rev. Dvorak, pastor of St. Peter in Richfield, sexually abused a minor in the 1970s. In accordance with Archdiocesan protocols, the allegation was treated as credible pending an investigation. The definition of "credible" in this context means "not manifestly false or frivolous."  The use of the term was neither a presumption nor a determination of guilt.

Law enforcement was notified and authorized the Archdiocese to conduct an investigation of the allegation. Rev. Dvorak took a voluntary leave of absence pending the outcome of that investigation. Upon completion of the Archdiocesan investigation, law enforcement was notified of the results of the investigation and the decision to reinstate Father Dvorak.

Statement Regarding Rev. Gerald Dvorak - Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

See also:  Priest may return to ministry after allegation 'not substantiated'  

Minneapolis police spokesperson John Elder said Wednesday that police did not investigate because the alleged victim did not contact police. Instead, a police commander told an official at the archdiocese to "look into it" and asked the archdiocesan official to tell the alleged victim "that we would like to speak to him or her," Elder said.

Elder said it's not possible for police to investigate a sex abuse claim unless a victim contacts police. "We had asked for this victim to come forward and victims to come forward a number of times, and if the victim chooses not to engage the police in any manner, we don't have a victim," he said.