St. Catherine s University is the first of any major Catholic institution to release a report based upon investigations about David Haas, after dozens of women came forward to report sexual abuse and grooming to the survivor advocacy organization Into Account last summer. (Unsplash/Matthew T. Rader)
Some sexual assault survivors and advocates are still working to hold Catholic institutions accountable following an independent investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against composer David Haas by St. Catherine s University in St. Paul, Minnesota. They are pointing to a failure to interview Haas and the then-president of the university, as well as a lack of accountability for a former university employee whom they allege was aware of allegations against Haas.
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Amy Anderson has kept a letter from Catholic composer David Haas for more than 30 years, an apology he sent to her parents after they reported to the St. Paul Seminary that Haas had sexually abused their then 18-year-old daughter. I know that you have had several conversations with Fr. [Charles] Froehle, here at the seminary, Haas wrote on his letterhead stationery on Jan. 22, 1988. I had no idea that I was making Amy uncomfortable … I do, however, hold ultimate responsibility for the entire incident …
Haas added that he was getting counseling from the Rev. Kenneth Pierre, a psychologist with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.