Recently named as ombudsperson for victim-survivors of clerical sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Julie Craven said she is honored to take on the work of accountability for the Church and promoting healing for those harmed.

Craven, associate director of the Initiative on Restorative Justice and Healing at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, succeeds Twin Cities attorney Victoria Newcome Johnson, who had served as ombudsperson since May 2020. Johnson said she hopes to spend more time with her children and grandchildren.

Johnson had succeeded her late husband, Tom Johnson, who in 2018 became the first person to hold the volunteer position, which was created out of a 2015 settlement agreement between the archdiocese and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. The settlement stemmed from civil charges the county filed alleging the archdiocese had failed to protect children in a clergy sex abuse case.

Since the settlement, the archdiocese has continued to support the role of an ombudsperson, who acts as an independent, outside resource for people with questions or concerns about clerical sexual abuse in the archdiocese.

Craven said she is “honored to be asked to serve in this role,” and it will complement the work she is doing with the restorative justice initiative at the university and at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. She also has worked over the years with parishes locally and in other dioceses, Craven said.

Those experiences “will be a wonderful background in this work of accountability and healing,” she said.

Tim O’Malley, director of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment for the archdiocese, said he appreciates Craven’s work. “I have had the privilege of working alongside Julie for a number of years and have long admired her commitment to building a better future through action and accountability combined with compassion, accessibility and restorative justice,” O’Malley said.

At St. Thomas, Craven works closely with Father Daniel Griffith, founding director of the restorative justice initiative and the liaison for restorative justice and healing in the archdiocese. Griffith also is pastor and rector of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.

Victoria Johnson serves on the advisiory board of the St. Thomas initiative. She is a former assistant Hennepin County Attorney and an advocate for restorative justice and healing.

She thanked Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Ramsey County Attorney John Choi for entrusting her with the task of ombudsperson, and O’Malley’s office for “implementing new policies and approaches which have made a positive difference in the treatment of victim-survivors of clergy sexual abuse.”

“Replacing my late husband Tom Johnson as ombudsman was a decision I made carefully, and prayerfully,” she said in a statement. “My service over the past two years has been challenging at times, but also deeply moving and incredibly rewarding. Accompanying victim-survivors of clergy sexual abuse (along with members of their families) in their quest for justice and healing — often after many years have passed — was a heartfelt and humbling experience.”

Archbishop Hebda said he was grateful for the Johnsons’ service. Both, the archbishop said, “came to our Church’s aid when we needed them most. Their combined efforts have positioned us to serve not only those who suffered harm, but to be responsive to our broader community and prepare for challenges still ahead.”

More information about the archdiocese’s safe environment efforts can be found at safe-environment.archspm.org. Craven can be reached at ombudsarchspm@gmail.com or by leaving a text or voice mail at 320-416-0708.