The Rev. Clarence Vavra retired in 2003 after 20 assignments over 38 years. He now lives in New Prague, the town where he grew up and where he served as associate pastor for a year in the late 1970s. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson)
Rosebud investigates sex abuse by priest
By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Staff Writer ROSEBUD — An alleged perpetrator who abused Lakota boys has confessed to the crimes. A Catholic priest from Minnesota named Father Clarence Vavra now stands accused. Rev. Clarence Vavra, who was working on the Rosebud reservation for one year in 1975, has reported himself for the sexual contact he had with “several boys” on the reservation. Vavra self reported in 1995. RST Tribal authorities are opening a criminal investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of the young boys and a teenager by Vavra. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis kept the priest in ministry even after he admitted to the abuse. Supervisory special agent Grace Her Many Horses says authorities will try to locate the men who may have been the victims of Vavra. Vavra admitted in a May 1995 psychological evaluation that one of his victims was nine or ten years old at the time. That person would likely now be in his late 40s. Vavra is now retired and lives in New Prague, Minn., halfway between the Twin Cities and Mankato. Her Many Horses said it is likely that she will need to ask the FBI for assistance. Since this is considered a major crime, tribal authorities can investigate, but they will ultimately have to turn the case over to the FBI. If a crime took place within the boundaries of the reservation and the victim was an enrolled tribal member, it is too late to file charges. That would constitute a federal case, where the statute of limitations is five years. But if a crime took place outside the borders of the reservation, or if any of the victims was not an enrolled member of a recognized tribe, it would become a state case, not a federal one. This would mean that there could still be time to file charges. A statute of limitations still applies in state cases, but the clock stops when the alleged perpetrator leaves the state. Vavra was only assigned to the South Dakota mission for about one year. It is possible, then, that he could be charged in that scenario, if prosecutors think they have a strong enough case. The question of whether the archdiocese in Minnesota could face charges has been examined. If a mandated reporter does not call authorities about known abuse, that person could be charged with a misdemeanor. Priests fall under the category of a mandated reporter, with the exception that they are not required to report anything that they learn during confession. Archdiocese leaders have declined to be interviewed. A spokesman said that the archdiocese has not been contacted by any law enforcement as of press time. Native Sun News will be following all of the developments of this story as they happen. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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