Michael Hoeppner

Crookston bishop defends conduct in sexual abuse case

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota bishop says he was trying to protect the confidentiality of a man who said he was sexually abused by a popular priest when he certified to other church officials that the priest was fit to work with children. Bishop Michael Hoeppner of the Diocese of Crookston is the subject of a Vatican-ordered investigation into whether he…

Crookston bishop under investigation under Pope’s new legislation

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has started an investigation into Diocese of Crookston Bishop Michael Hoeppner under Pope Francis’ recent legislation addressing bishop accountability in the church worldwide. He is the first Minnesota bishop to be investigated under this protocol. In a statement, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda said he was authorized by the Congregation for Bishops…