priest

Priest struck and killed while riding bike near Twin Cities

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. – A Twin Cities area priest has been struck and killed while riding his bike in Rosemount. Risen Savior Church in Burnsville announced Tuesday that the Rev. Dennis Dempsey was the bicyclist who died Monday afternoon after he was hit by a car on County Road 42. The 26-year-old Minneapolis driver who struck Dempsey was arrested at the…

Crookston Diocese priest placed on leave for ‘boundary violations’

CROOKSTON, Minn. (KFGO) – A Catholic priest from the Diocese of Crookston has been placed on administrative leave. Bishop Michael Hoeppner says “several issues” concerning Fr. Bryan Kujawa have been brought to his attention, including “non-criminal, non-sexual boundary violations.” Kujawa works at St. Philip’s Church in Bemidji and St. Charles in Pennington. Hoeppner says Kujawa will remain on leave until…

Alleged Sexual Assault Survivor Comes Forward, Claims Fargo Diocese Blamed Her for Abuse

She says Father Michael Wight took advantage of her

FARGO, N.D. — A woman gives an emotional statement about an alleged sexual assault she experienced at a Belcourt church, a place she calls her everything. ” Michael was my spiritual father. I trusted him even when I didn’t trust him. I just wanted a father who loved me. I never had that,” Kateri Marion said. She says Father Michael…

Former Fargo, West Fargo Catholic Priest Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

Fernando Sayasaya is charged with molesting two underage brothers from 1995 to 1998. Three more victims have come forward since then.

FARGO, N.D. — 53–year–old Fernando Sayasaya, a former Fargo area Catholic priest in the metro, is sentenced to 20 years in prison for molesting boys. It’s a day investigators on Sayasaya’s case say they can’t believe is finally here. “It took a lot of work to get to this point and at times, I thought it probably isn’t going to work….

New Court Date Set for Former Priest Fernando Sayasaya

Sayasaya is accused of molesting two brothers between 1995 and 1998

  FARGO, N.D. — Fernando Sayasaya, the former Fargo Catholic priest accused of molesting two underage boys, made his second appearance in court this morning. During a hearing in Cass County court in Fargo, Sayasaya’s attorney asked for more time. The judge agreed and set his next court date for May 17. Sayasaya pleaded not guilty in February to charges of…

St. Cloud Priest Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

Priest is Jailed In Stearns County

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — A priest in the Diocese of St. Cloud has been arrested for sexual misconduct. The Rev. Anthony Oelrich is jailed in Stearns County and is scheduled for a court appearance. A statement from Bishop Donald Kettler says the investigation into the sexual misconduct involves a woman. Kettler placed Oelrich on administrative leave and suspended him pending…

Local Priest on Administrative Leave Reinstated by Crookston Catholic Diocese

Father Pat Sullivan was accused of sexual misconduct at a church in Red Lake in 2008 but denied he did anything wrong

CROOKSTON, Minn. — A local priest who had been placed on administrative leave has been reinstated by the Crookston Catholic Diocese. Father Pat Sullivan was accused of sexual misconduct at a church in Red Lake in 2008 but denied he did anything wrong. An investigation into the accusation by a panel of law enforcement, social workers, a priest and an…

19-Year-Old Sex Abuse Investigation Cracked with Arrest of Former Fargo Priest

A former priest in the Diocese of Fargo is in custody on charges that date back 19 years

FARGO, ND — A former priest in the Diocese of Fargo is in custody on charges that date back 19 years. Fernando Sayasaya was arrested in the Philippines and is on his way back to Fargo to face those charges. It’s been said the wheels of justice turn slowly, and in the case of a West Fargo family, it took…