Priest seeks to foster healing at parish in wake of misconduct allegations

Father Timothy Cloutier hopes his new assignment at Blessed Sacrament parish in St. Paul will foster healing and renewal for parishioners in the wake of allegations that their former pastor engaged in misconduct involving a minor.

Father Curtis Wehmeyer, who had been pastor of Blessed Sacrament since 2009, was removed from all ministerial duties by Archbishop John Nienstedt after the archdiocese learned about the allegations, according to a June 24 statement from the archdiocese.

“While promoting healing for the good people at the Blessed Sacrament and St. Thomas the Apostle sites of the parish will certainly be present in my mind and heart, helping them and myself to move forward in discipleship will be the principal focus of my attention and ministry, as it’s always been,” said Father Cloutier, who has been assigned as parochial administrator of the parish.

St. Thomas the Apostle and Blessed Sacrament merged in July 2011, with Blessed Sacrament as the receiving parish.

Father Cloutier will continue to serve as judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Previous to his appointment as judicial vicar in July 2011, he served as pastor of St. Mary in Waverly from 2003 to 2011.

Investigation initiated

Following archdiocesan policy, the archdiocese said it immediately reported the allegations against Father Wehmeyer to the police and an investigation was begun. The archdiocese is cooperating fully with police, the statement added.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, Father Wehmeyer is prohibited from exercising any ministry in the archdiocese. He is no longer in residence at Blessed Sacrament.

Parishioners were informed about the allegations during weekend Masses June 23-24 and were provided a written copy of the archdiocese’s statement.

The archdiocese’s statement added that anyone having knowledge of misconduct within a parish should call the proper authorities and is encouraged to notify the archdiocese at (651) 291-4497.

“The Archdiocese deeply regrets the pain caused by clergy misconduct or by others within the Church. The Archdiocese is offering its support and assistance to all concerned,” the statement said.