Community urges support for priest abuse victims in man's memory

Charlee Rubesky, FOX 11 News, Sunday, March 7th 2021

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WLUK) -- Nearly a year after the death of Nate Lindstrom, community members came together with a purpose to remember.

Lindstrom died by suicide at the age of 45, after coming forward with allegations of abuse by Norbertine priests when he was a teenager.

There were no criminal charges based off of Lindstrom’s allegations.

Family and friends gathered outside Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay to try and find meaning.

“Nate really looked up to me and I really looked up to Nate, so we had a charmed life," Nate's brother Aaron Lindstrom said. 

Lindstrom says his brother Nate had a lot to live for.

“To me, it’s important to also remember the legacy of just a great father, a great friend, a great man," Aaron Lindstrom said.

Aaron Lindstrom says his brother also struggled with a secret few knew about. As a freshman at Premontre High School, what is now Notre Dame, Nate worked at the St. Michael Priory nearby.

“It was almost that, week one of being there for orientation that a predator priest got to our very good friend Mark and Nathan and took them swimming at the Abbey, doing inappropriate things with them," Aaron Lindstrom said.

Supporters of Nate Lindstrom gathered, many with signs, to announce a new victims rights initiative called Nate’s Mission.

“Nate’s mission has always been that this doesn’t happen to anybody else," Nate's father David Lindstrom said. 

The initiative will focus on justice for victims, reform of state law and church practices, and accountability for ministers in faith-based communities who have committed or covered up child sex crimes.

“I think all they do want is they just want to be believed," Aaron Lindstrom said. 

FOX 11 reached out to the St. Norbert Abbey for comment ahead of this event.

The Abbey issued a statement to FOX 11 News, which read, “St. Norbert Abbey understands the need to remember Nate Lindstrom on the anniversary of his death as well as throughout the year. We will be praying for Nate, his family, and all victims of abuse that they may find hope and healing.”

Aaron Lindstrom says the family recently spoke with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and urged him to open a statewide investigation into clergy abuse. The family says they feel good about the conversation.

“The Catholic Church is a huge organization and they do a lot of good in the world but there's just some changes that need to be made," Aaron Lindstrom said.

Changes that may come too late for Nate, but they believe could help to protect others.

For more information on suicide prevention, click here.