KC Diocese releases list of 33 clerics ‘credibly accused’ of abuse

KANSAS CITY (MO)
KMBC 9 News

Sept. 6, 2019

On Friday, the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph published a list of area clerics who have been found to have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse against a minor.

“In releasing this list my first hope is that it will acknowledge the survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their wounds,” said Rev. James V. Johnson Jr., bishop of Kansas City – St. Joseph. “The release of these names cannot change the past. It is merely a step forward in hope, but a necessary step.”

The diocese said the list was compiled after a review of diocese files by a forensic research firm.

“Their findings confirmed there are no clerics in active ministry in the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph with substantiated allegations of abusing minors,” Johnson said.

However, SNAP, or the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said this release was long overdue and incomplete.

The list released by the diocese names 19 area diocesan clergy with substantiated abuse allegations, as well as clerics not incardinated in the KCSJ diocese but who were within the area at the time of the abuse.

Officials with SNAP called the bishop’s release Friday “reckless and callous” and said the information the list contained was incomplete.

“It is reckless and callous for Bishop Johnston to have hidden these names for so long, releasing them when it’s convenient for him, instead of immediately when the allegations are made or deemed ‘credible’ by church officials,” a SNAP release said. “And it is notable to us that the list is missing several names and key details about others.”

SNAP identified six clerics the organization identified as having spent time with KCSJ: Fr. Deusdedit Mulokozi, Fr. James V. McCormick, Fr. Richard C. Colbert, Fr. Donald Redmond, Fr. Thomas A. Conway and Fr. Edgar Probstfield.

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