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Aug. 6, 2019Conception Junction, MO |  By: John Coffey

Conception Abbey publishes information about sexual abuse allegations

The Conception Abbey has joined several dioceses and religious orders around the nation in publishing information about members within their groups who have had allegations of sexual abuse of minors made against them.

Abbot of Conception Abbey, Benedict Neenan, says the Conception Abbey leadership hired retired FBI agents to review personnel files of all Abbey priests and brothers serving in the past 70 years.

"The report of the allegation may have happened many years after the incident was supposed to have happened.  Some of the incidents go back into the 50's."

Eight Abbey priests or brothers were named in the investigation. None of the priests continues in ministry.

The Conception Abbey has formed an independent Abbey Review Board, made up of lay persons, to review any allegation of sexual misconduct by members of the monastic community, seminary, or staff. The review board's recommendations then go to the Abbot and his council of advisors. Services of an independent victim advocate have also been retained.

Abbot Benedict says through improved training and the formation of the Abbey Review Board, he hopes future incidents can be avoided.

"This is something we are working very hard to make sure it doesn't happen in the future to the best of our ability.  We hope to be leaders actually in helping other organizations find ways to eradicate these kinds of evils in our society."

More information concerning the Conception Abbey's actions are available at conceptionabbey.org .