MISSOURI
Belleville News-Democratl
The Associated Press
February 24, 2015
ST. LOUIS — A former priest who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child is free after 12 years in prison, and advocates for victims of clergy abuse say they are worried about what could happen next.
Gary Wolken, 49, was released Monday from the state prison in Cameron, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1ApaoVg ) reported.
Victims’ advocates say the Archdiocese of St. Louis has a responsibility to protect the public.
“We believe it’s disingenuous and dangerous for bishops to recruit, educate, ordain, hire, train, supervise, transfer and shield predator priests, but then defrock them when their crimes hit the headlines and do nothing else to protect the vulnerable from them,” said David Clohessy of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
The archdiocese said in a statement that Wolken is no longer a priest and will be subject to all sex offender regulations. It also encourages anyone wishing to report misconduct with a minor to contact clergy, church or archdiocese personnel, or police.
“We continue to pray for the victims and families of the grave evil of sexual abuse,” the statement read.
The nonprofit group Bishop Accountability says that between 275 and 300 Catholic clergy members have served prison terms in the United States since the scandal broke more than a decade ago.
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