Archbishop Robert J. Carlson claims he was unaware sexual abuse was a crime

ST. LOUIS (MO)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

[with video]

By Lilly Fowler lfowler@post-dispatch.com 314-340-822118

1984 Archbishop Robert J. Carlson memo

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson claims to be unsure that he was aware a priest sexually abusing a child constituted a crime when he was auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, according to a deposition released Monday.

During the deposition, attorney Jeff Anderson asked Carlson whether he knew it was a crime for an adult to engage in sex with a child.

“I’m not sure whether I knew it was a crime or not,” Carlson replied. “I understand today it’s a crime.”

Anderson went on to ask Carlson whether he knew in 1984, when he was an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, that it was crime for a priest to engage in sex with a child.

“I’m not sure if…