by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The name of another priest has been added to a list of about 40 area Catholic clergy “likely to have abused minors,” according to a recent announcement from Bishop Donald Kettler, head of the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud.
The priest is Fr. Antonio Marfori, who was ordained in 1978 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. Marfori has had two complaints against him. The first was filed in 2015, the second in 2016. Both complaints allege Marfori sexually abused minors in the late 1970s, the first against a minor while he was a part-time instructor at Cathedral High School, the second against a minor when he was a full-time instructor at that high school. Kettler ordered an investigation into the allegations after the first complaint was filed in 2015. Marfori was at Cathedral from 1978-80, first as a part-time instructor, later as an instructor and assistant chaplain.
Marfori has served in various places throughout the years, including St. Francis Xavier Parish in Sartell right after his ordination where he was a part-time instructor and later a full-time instructor and assistant chaplain.
Kettler ordered Marfori not be allowed to serve as a priest or present himself as a priest. He currently lives in St. Cloud under restrictions.
Kettler has held listening sessions in the places where Marfori served.
Other places where Marfori worked or went to school are the following:
- Associate pastor at St. Paul’s in Sauk Centre, 1980-84.
- Pastor at St. Agnes’s in Roscoe, 1985-93.
- Pastor at St. Margaret’s in Lake Henry (while continuing at St. Agnes), 1987-93.
- Pastor at St. Pius X at Zimmerman, 1993-2007.
- Pastor at St. Anne’s at Kimball, 2007-08.
- Canonical administrator (St. Elizabeth’s, Brennyville; Sts. Peter and Paul, Gilman; St. Joseph’s, Morrill), 2008-10.
- Medical leave of absence, 2010.
Bishop Kettler said he encourages all victims of abuse to come forward. Contact information for victim advocates and county officials to whom abuse can be reported is available online at: stcdio.org/about/safe-environment/how-to-report-abuse.
