Monks suffer with abusers in the family: in a `dark night of the spirit,' St. John's Abbey contemplates uncertain future with fear, hope: last in a two-part series - Church In Crisis

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 27, 2002 by Patricia Lefevere

Newcomers know it

The community has expressed its gratitude to the newcomers. "They know everything there is to know about us, yet choose to join us. Priesthood is a heroic choice now," Stewart said.

The scandals have also forced the monks to re-examine their vocations. This year's renewal of vows was "much more significant" Stewart held, than in the past. A new commitment to the basis of monastic life, a "call to re-founding" is emerging, he said.

On a practical side, monks have considered the graying of their community, the financial and societal costs of the lawsuits that the abbey recently settled and the shortage of men to fill their shoes once they've passed on. For years teaching monks have earned the same salary lay instructors receive in the colleges. The difference is that monks return 55 percent of their pay to the university. With fewer drawing salaries, monks may have to decide to give back less to the university, retaining more for their own care, Stewart said.

The scandals have "heightened these concerns and put our future development under a shadow," said Br. Bradley Jenniges, assistant treasurer in the business office.

Jenniges, who cuts checks each month for the thera, py costs of those abused by abbey monks as well as for ongoing therapy for the monks themselves, said that falling market prices have had a greater effect on St. John's holdings than have payouts to victims. In recent weeks the university has been paying for ads in major Minnesota dailies to bolster its image.

A few months ago Jenniges wondered "whether this was the right place to be. I felt a lot of calling into question of a celibate vocation in general," he said. But his commitment to the community "and what it says about trusting in Christ who has promised to be with us" is solid. "It may be that additional changes in our lifestyle will be forthcoming," he said, "but I'm willing to anchor into that process if my fellow monks are. I'm willing to stay in this community. I'm hoping others feel the same."

A relative newcomer to St. John's, Fr. William Schipper, said he senses that the atmosphere in the monastery has changed. "I'm not oblivious to it, but I don't feel it dragging me down," said the monk who is a faculty resident in a freshman dormitory.

Schipper, who teaches a course on male spirituality and sexuality said that students have been very supportive of the monks. "They don't think we're lurking around comers waiting to play with someone's genitals."

A lot of the hurt that Schipper finds inside the house happens because sexual abuse actually occurred and because "it's being gone over again and again. We can't have a future because of these [news] stories. It's like an endless sentence for the community and the perpetrators."

`These men are suffering'

Very few monks shun those on restriction, said Fr. William Skudlarek, spokesman for the abbey and liaison with the monks on restriction--none of whom has chosen to talk to the press. Certain members feel uncomfortable with the abuser monks because "these men are suffering a lot and some people have a difficult time with suffering," Skudlarek said. "I believe there's forgiveness which still needs to take place in the community."