ST. LOUIS (MO)
Riverfront Times

[Friends of Fr. Joseph Jiang]

By Sam Levin Mon., Jul. 29 2013

The sex abuse allegations against Father Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang received renewed attention this month with St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson facing a subpoena and church leaders facing a lawsuit from the accuser’s family. As the criminal investigation and legal complaint move forward, a group of Jiang supporters have emerged, most recently launching a website to defend the local priest.

“We believe in Father Joseph’s innocence,” says Lucy Hannegan, who created the Friends of Fr. Joseph Jiang website. “We don’t want to see him tried and convicted in the court of public opinion.”

Victims’ advocates, however, are slamming this public defense of Jiang as an irresponsible campaign that is damaging and offensive to the accuser and her family.

Jiang has been on administrative leave from his position as an associate pastor…