Prosecutors in St. Cloud, Minnesota, seek harsher sentence and new charge against priest in alleged abuse case

Joseph Paul Herzing, 61, of Milaca, faces one count each of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and stalking, and three counts of threats of violence, according to a report from stcloudlive.com in August 2024. These are charges, not convictions, and the reports supplied do not describe any plea. Herzing is a priest, and the alleged incidents occurred between May 2018 and October 2022.

Herzing served as a priest in Little Falls and St. Cloud during that period. Stcloudlive.com reported that he was ordained in 1999 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. A November 2024 report from knsiradio.com said he was stationed in Little Falls in 2018, when a woman reported that he provided spiritual guidance to her through confession.

According to stcloudlive.com, the St. Cloud Police opened the investigation in August 2024 after a report from the woman, who said she had received spiritual guidance from Herzing in Little Falls in 2018. She said Herzing continued to advise her after she moved to St. Cloud, until October 2022. Church authorities received multiple reports of conduct suggesting an inappropriate relationship, including reports that Herzing was at the woman’s residence during late-night and early-morning hours. Knsiradio.com reported that multiple individuals told church leadership of inappropriate intimate conduct between Herzing and the woman between 2018 and 2022.

Knsiradio.com also reported the woman’s allegations in more detail. It said she alleged that in February 2022, Herzing choked her and threatened to kill her. It reported she alleged that in May 2022, he choked her, wrestled her to the ground, pulled her hair, and made threats of violence after she confronted him about a text message. It further reported she alleged that in August 2022, Herzing threatened to ride into a tree and kill them both, and drove toward an oncoming semi-truck before swerving away. Knsiradio.com reported that Herzing admitted kissing the woman on two occasions but denied having a spiritual guidance relationship with her. These statements are allegations and accounts that have not been tested in court.

The two reports differ on the diocese’s earlier response. Stcloudlive.com reported that diocesan leadership found no evidence of physical or sexual misconduct at that time in 2022. Knsiradio.com reported that Bishop Patrick Neary reinstated Herzing to active ministry in June 2023 and appointed him pastor of five parishes in June 2024. Protecting people in the care of church leaders depends on taking reports of this kind seriously and examining them carefully (Proverbs 31:8-9).

The reports also differ on when the diocese acted after the charges. Stcloudlive.com reported that Bishop Neary placed Herzing on leave after charges were filed in Stearns County court. Knsiradio.com reported that Bishop Neary was informed of the charges on November 26, and that Herzing was placed on administrative leave.