Diocese of St. Cloud reinstates Fr. Aaron Kuhn

Diocese of St. Cloud priest Fr. Aaron Kuhn

12/27/24 author’s note: Significant portions of the original Dec. 23 version of this article have been removed by request of a party involved in this case. The party who made the request did not dispute the accuracy of my Dec. 23 reporting, but expressed concerns about some information being made public.

A Diocese of St. Cloud, MN priest suspended in June for “sexual misconduct involving an adult” has returned to work.

In a Dec. 5 letter to the Mary, Mother of The Church Area Catholic Community, Bishop Neary announced that Fr. Kuhn would be completing treatment on Dec. 18 but would not be returning as their pastor.

“Father Aaron will return to Mary, Mother of The Church ACC for the next few weeks to celebrate Masses and reconnect with parishioners,” Bishop Neary writes. “However, in order to better focus on his continued health, and trusting the good care provided by Father Arlie Sowada as parochial administrator, Father Aaron has resigned as pastor of your ACC.”

Bishop Neary explained that Fr. Kuhn will start a new role in January assisting in the diocese Tribunal office.

Kuhn will spend the last few days of 2024 assisting at the ACC and saying goodbye to his former parishioners. According to the ACC Community Calendar, Fr. Kuhn was scheduled to hear confessions on Dec. 21, just three days after being released from his sexual misconduct suspension. Father Kuhn is also scheduled to preside at ACC Christmas Masses before settling into his behind-the-scenes office role with the diocese.

Original Aug. 25, 2024 story:
Fr. Aaron Kuhn's suspension and the Catholic hierarchy's inept "rest and reassign" approach to priest sexual misconduct with adults

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