KANSAS CITY (MO)
KCTV CBS 5 [Kansas City, MO]
August 8, 2024
By Sarah Motter
A Kansas City Catholic Deacon has been suspended after a lawsuit claimed he sexually abused a teenage boy decades ago.
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph announced on Wednesday, Aug. 7, that it had been made aware of an accusation that Brother Ralph Wehner had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor.
Church leaders said the incident is alleged to have happened more than once between 1982 and 1984 in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. An initial internal investigation was immediately launched to “determine any potential connection to Deacon Ralph Wehner.”
Based on the findings of the initial investigation, Bishop James Johnston launched a higher-level investigation on Wednesday. Deacon Wehner, whose staff directory page revealed he hails from St. Louis, has now been placed on precautionary suspension from the ministry.
However, the Diocese noted that a precautionary suspension from ministry should not be viewed as a punishment or indication of wrongdoing. This is a protective measure for everyone involved.
Church leaders indicated that they take allegations of misconduct by personnel seriously and work to respond to the needs of survivors with urgency and respect.
The lawsuit, filed in the St. Louis County Circuit Court, lists 26 victims who were all minors at the time of the alleged sexual abuse. The plaintiffs claimed that the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski covered up the abuse for decades.
One of the plaintiffs, W.C., a male who was born in 1969, claimed Wehner had sexually abused him between the ages of 13 and 15. W.C.’s father, a very religious man, pushed him to be an altar boy and would punish him if he did not want to attend mass.
The suit states that the abuse, which happened on at least three occasions, happened as Wehner, who oversaw training new altar boys, would help the teenager dress in his robes and would use this as a chance to touch, fondle and grope him as Wehner “smoothed things out on the robes.”
The lawsuit seeks damages for claims levied against dozens of other former and current members of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Those with knowledge of misconduct by any church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member, regardless of when the abuse occurred, have been urged to contact local law enforcement first, and then contact the diocese’s confidential report line at 816-812-2500 or at ombudsman@diocesekcsj.org.
No further information has been released.