Posted: 6/19/02

Former FL man at center of Catholic Church abuse crisis

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

As Roman Catholic bishops met in Dallas last week and adopted new policies dealing with priests or deacons who have sexually abused minors, the testimony of a former Forest Lake man played a central role in the outcome.

Craig Martin, 46, now of St. Cloud, was one of four victims of sexual abuse by a priest who spoke to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Thursday, June 13, as the bishops weighed new rules for priests and deacons who abuse minors.

Martin, a 1974 graduate of Forest Lake High School, told of abuse by Father Joseph Heitzer, a priest at St. Peterís Church in Forest Lake. Martin was 11 when the alleged abuse took place in 1968.

According to information released by Martin, the abuse took place in a motel when Martin accompanied Father Heitzer on a fishing trip.

Little in Forest Lake is known about Father Heitzer.

Some longtime St. Peterís parishioners recall Father Heitzer as an associate pastor who worked at St. Peterís on a full-time basis for a short period.

Father Robert Sipe, current pastor at St. Peterís, was away on retreat this week and not available for comment. His office issued this statement on Monday:

ìTo the best of our knowledge, Father Heitzer was originally from the Archdiocese of New Ulm. He was not specifically assigned to St. Peterís Parish and spent about a year working this Parish under Pastors Streff and Color.

He went into treatment for alcoholism after leaving St. Peterís.î

According to the Rev. Kevin McDonough, vicar general of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Father Heitzer died at age 55 in 1969 after suffering a heart attack while in treatment for alcoholism in the Twin Cites. His death came about a year after Martinís abuse incident is alleged in Forest Lake.

Martin speaks

Martin, contacted by the newspaper on Monday, declined an interview request. He provided a transcript from his testimony before the bishops in Dallas.

In declining the interview, Martin said he and his family are asking for time and privacy in dealing with a difficult family situation. He said he may speak more at a later time.

Martin said he may attend a listening session planned by archdiocese scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 25 at St. Peterís Church.

In his statement before the bishops, he said, ìI can only hope and pray that the Catholic Church will find the way to admit its wrongs, ask for forgiveness from every person from every walk of life, and help them successfully continue their journey.î

During his testimony, Martin urged the bishops to establish an independent fund to help victims and offenders and to use other resources to help and protect victims of sexual abuse.

Martin is now attending college at St. Cloud State University, seeking a degree in social work. He owns a bar and restaurant in Waite Park.

He and his wife, Julie, are the parents of three children.

The bishops last week took some steps in dealing with the abuse crisis.

A policy was adopted which would remove any priest or deacon from ministry who has sexually abused a minor or who does so in the future.

The policy does not formally defrock a priest, but does prevent a priest or deacon from any form of ministry or staff work.

The policy is subject to approval by the Vatican before it can be put into place.

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