St. Louis Diocese Won't Post List of Abusive Priests

By Kathy Peterson and Anne Harter
Post Dispatch
February 21, 2019

https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/st-louis-diocese-won-t-post-list-of-abusive-priests/article_4de0e35e-0795-5a0b-a421-6f0cfcf24142.html

Robert.jpg St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson makes the sign of the cross as he concludes the homily where he spoke about clergy sexual abuse during a Mass of Reparation at the Cathedral Basilica on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com

To the west, the Jefferson City Catholic diocese has posted a list of accused abusive priests on its website. To the south, the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese has too. To the east, the Belleville diocese has posted a list. In fact, more than half of America’s 187 dioceses have produced such lists, starting in 2002.

It’s not just dioceses. A St. Louis-based Jesuit region revealed a list of 42 accused clerics (with 12 who worked at one local high school.) But the St. Louis archdiocese steadfastly refuses to do so.

Arguably if any area prelate should do this, it should be Archbishop Robert Carlson. In court filings five years ago, his lawyers admitted that 115 of the archdiocese’s staff had been accused of sexual misdeeds.

According to BishopAccountability.org, only 58 St. Louis-area clerics are publicly identified as accused of abuse. That means no Catholic jurisdiction in the bistate area is hiding so many alleged child molesters. So only half of the priests, nuns, brothers and seminarians who church officials acknowledge face accusations are known to the public. (And that information has come mostly because of brave victims who’ve filed civil lawsuits.)

These lists are not panaceas. They are small, long-overdue steps toward transparency. They’re happening now because of intense pressure on bishops — from parents, parishioners, police and prosecutors. Over the past few months, 16 attorneys general have announced investigations into the Catholic hierarchy’s handling of abuse cases.

But they do make kids safe? Sometimes. A Jefferson City priest, for instance, went on to work at Disney World after being suspended. After the Springfield, Ill., bishop posted his “accused” list, an ex-priest was fired from his taxpayer-funded job.

Even those prelates who have posted such lists usually still fall short in several key ways.

First, they often deliberately overlook priests who were ordained elsewhere, such as one accused of molesting at least two dozen boys who has worked in both St. Louis and Belleville. Another is accused of molesting at least seven kids, including a local boy at St. Mary’s parish in Belleville.

Second, bishops often omit religious-order clerics, those priests who are Jesuits, Marianists or Crosiers who were ordained elsewhere, molested elsewhere, but were sent into another diocese. For example, there’s a Belleville-based order in which at least five clerics were, according to the church’s own records, credibly accused of assaulting children in Minnesota.

But they also spent time around here and have remained essentially below the radar. Between them, they worked in at least nine St. Louis-area towns, including Belleville.

Why do these omissions matter? Because every time an abuser remains hidden, kids remain at risk. And because the Bible tells us that “the truth shall set you free.” Not just part of the truth but “the truth.” And the truth — the full truth — is the best way to safeguard the vulnerable, heal the wounded and help the church move forward.

But before a discussion can take place about the particulars of these lists, Archbishop Carlson must produce one. For the safety of youngsters, the healing of victims and the benefit of his own flock, we hope he does so soon.

Kathy Peterson of St. Louis and Anne Harter of Belleville are members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.