No matter how it turns out, this is not good news. And it’s uncomfortably close to home.
“Minnesota priest accused of sexual abuse, threatening woman”
Bring Me The News (December 8, 2025)“A Minnesota priest is accused of sexually abusing, physically assaulting and threatening to kill a woman who sought spiritual guidance from him, according to new criminal charges…
“Joseph Herzing, 61, was charged late last month in Stearns County District Court with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, stalking and three counts of threatening violence.…
“…St. Cloud police launched an investigation last year after the woman came forward with the allegations….
“…In one of the incidents, the woman confronted Herzing about a text message from a person she suspected he was having an intimate relationship with.
“Charges allege Herzing became ‘irate’, choked the woman, wrestled her to the ground, hit her head against the pavement, pulled her hair and threatened to kill her.
“In another 2022 incident, the woman was riding on Herzing’s motorcycle when he allegedly threatened to kill the woman and himself by driving into a tree. He then drove into oncoming traffic towards a semi-truck and swerved after the semi honked to avoid collision, charges state….
“…The statement confirms diocesan leadership ‘was made aware of potential inappropriate behavior between Father Herzing and an adult’ in 2022, but claims ‘there was no indication of physical or sexual misconduct.’
“Then-Bishop Donald Kettler met with Father Herzing and immediately placed him on administrative leave to undergo a comprehensive professional evaluation,” the St. Cloud Diocese shared. ‘Father Herzing then entered and completed a residential treatment program.’…”
[emphasis mine]
First off, all I know about this is what I read in that Bring Me The News article, and the St. Cloud Diocese statement:
November 27, 2025: A statement regarding Father Joe Herzing
News Release, Diocese of St. Cloud
Media Contact: Kristi Anderson, Director of Communications“…In September 2024, Bishop Neary was informed that a report was made to authorities related to the concerns raised in 2022 and that an investigation was underway. The bishop allowed Father Herzing to continue as pastor while remaining under restrictions and monitoring.
“When Bishop Neary was alerted of the criminal charges on Nov. 26, 2025. Father Herzing was immediately placed on full administrative leave….
“…Bishop Neary remains committed to transparency, accountability and the protection of all involved.
“‘We have a responsibility to protect the safety and dignity of every person. My commitment is to ensure that our response is clear and rooted in care for all those affected. We will continue to cooperate fully with authorities and accompany our communities with honesty and compassion.'”
“Bishop Neary asks the faithful to join him in prayer and encourages all victims of abuse to come forward to civil authorities or diocesan victim advocates….”
[emphasis mine]
As my wife pointed out, this is very early days. The charges are, I hope obviously, serious.
I think it is possible that the current re-investigation will uncover evidence that offenses were committed. Or that they weren’t.
Attitudes and Assumptions
Either way, I very strongly suspect that there will be the usual ‘you know what Catholics are like’ attitudes expressed.
On the other hand, maybe more folks have learned that ‘those Catholics’ aren’t dangerous outsiders, a threat to their country and their families.
About what Bishop Neary said, I realize that prayer won’t solve everything.
Neither, for that matter, will having civil authorities investigate — or, if I’m reading it right, re-investigating — these charges. No matter what laws are passed and how many times investigators investigate, some people who should know better will act badly.
And some folks ‘who should know better’ will show by their actions that they do know better.
Making Sense
Me? Even though I’m aware that my prayers — and my actions — won’t magically make everyone behave, I’ll keep praying.
And I’ll keep saying that loving God, loving my neighbors, and remembering that everyone is my neighbor, makes sense. (Matthew 5:43–44, 22:36–40; Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31, 10:25–27, 29–37; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2196)
Finally, no matter how this turns out, I’ll keep being a Catholic. That’s because I take Jesus seriously, and realize that we live in a distinctly non-ideal world:
- “Death and Evil: But Also Light and Hope” (September 6, 2025)
- “Just Who is This Jesus Person, and Who Does He Think He is?” (October 8, 2022)
- “Wheat, Tares, Fear of the Lord and Working on Wisdom” (December 19, 2020)
- “Rules, Principles, and a Defrocked Cardinal” (February 17, 2019)
- “Mother’s Day, and Mary” (May 14, 2017)
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