ST. LOUIS (MO)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)
We’re here today for three reasons: to warn the public about a defrocked predator priest’s current and recent whereabouts, to prod St. Louis’ archbishop to disclose the names of 63 credibly accused child molesting clerics, and to denounce the archbishop for his mean-spirited actions last week in attacking a child sex abuse victim.
1) A pro bono professional investigator tells us that the now-defrocked Fr. Joseph Dixon Ross lives at 5321 N. Highway 94, St. Charles (Three others live at that address including a Patrick Ross Wehmeier and a woman we suspect is Fr. Ross’ sister.) His phone numbers are believed to be 636 250 3723 and 314 289 9545. His last known Arkansas address was 501 Napa Valley Dr., Apt. 216 in Little Rock.
We make this public for the safety of children. We believe Ross’ neighbors in St. Charles deserve to know they have a serial child predator in their midst. We can’t help but worry that he may worship in and befriend families with kids at nearby Catholic parishes in St. Charles.
We hope that St. Louis families will spread the word about Ross’ presence back in the metro area.
2) One of Ross’ victims, Jane Doe, settled her lawsuit against the archdiocese last week. Because of her courage and persistence, Archbishop Robert Carlson was forced to admit that the archdiocese has gotten 240 credible child sex abuse reports against 115 priests and other church employees. (These figures, we suspect, are lower than the true numbers. The judge told church officials they only had to include allegations that they deemed “credible.”)
A trustworthy Boston-based archive group lists 52 publicly accused St. Louis child molesting clerics (including nuns, priests and seminarians).
So this means three things;
First, the sheer number of proven, admitted and credibly accused St. Louis Catholic clerics is at least twice as high as anyone knew previously.
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