Lawrence Donald Soens

Lawrence Donald Soens (August 26, 1926 – November 1, 2021) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

In 2008, the Diocese of Davenport in Iowa announced multiple credible accusations that Soens had sexually abused children as a priest.

He was pastor at St. Mary's Parish in Clinton, Iowa, when Pope John Paul II named him a prelate of honor, with the title of monsignor, on December 18, 1981.

Soens then dispatched Coyle to the Servants of the Paraclete foundation house in Jemez Springs, New Mexico for evaluation and treatment.

[6] Soens's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City was accepted by John Paul II on November 28, 1998.

[7][8] On November 6, 2008, the diocesan review board for the Diocese of Sioux City reported that there were credible accusations that Soens had sexually abused minors.