Catholic Religious Order Charged With Mishandling Abuse Claims Against One of Its Brothers

AP yesterday reported on a long series of events reflecting mishandling by the Catholic religious order, the De La Salle Christian Brothers, of sexual abuse charges against one of its Brothers, Raimond Rose.  Rose taught religion and history classes at De La Salle high schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and California. He is charged with sexually molesting numerous boys in the 1960's, '70's and early '80's, often while accompanying them on school trips. 21 victims so far have filed lawsuits against Rose. One of the victims, Kenneth Price, contacted the Christian Brothers religious order in 1995. He was assured in a letter from Brother Thomas Johnson (now the second-highest official in the international Christian Brothers order) that Rose had been forbidden to be in contact with anyone under 18 and was working in a prison. It turns out, however, that Rose was chaplain for the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing, a facility for males ages 10 to 21. One of the inmates later sued Rose for molestation.