SPRINGFIELD (MO)
Springfield Daily Citizen [Springfield, MO]
September 17, 2024
By Jackie Rehwald
The Diocese vowed to investigate the claims and said it continues to ‘pray for all those who have been injured by abuse’
Eleven plaintiffs — one of whom is a former Springfield resident — filed a federal lawsuit last week against the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau claiming they were sexually abused as children by church employees and that the diocese covered it up.
The suit, filed on Sept. 13, also names Bishop Edward M. Rice, who has led the diocese since 2016. The suit alleges Rice, in his official capacity, “knowingly enabled, covered up, and concealed for multiple decades” that church employees sexually abused minors.
“Moreover, Defendants have covered up and concealed their own intentional misconduct in enabling this sexual abuse by exploiting the trusting and confidential relationships the Defendants (the Dioceses and Rice) encouraged and established with Plaintiffs while they were impressionable young children,” the suit alleges. “This shameless cover-up spanned decades and allowed various bishops and other employees to access and sexually abuse numerous children …”
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is headquartered in Springfield. Bishop Rice is being sued solely in his capacity as supervisor of the abusers identified in the suit.
Diocese vows to examine new claims
A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau sent the following statement Sept. 17:
“The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has become aware it was named in a civil lawsuit representing 11 persons who allege sexual abuse by seven clergy reported to have occurred some 20 to over 50 years ago. The Diocese takes these allegations seriously, and in order to respect the process of the court system, it will make no further comments about the allegations in the lawsuit.
“These new claims will be examined and the Diocese will continue to attend to those who have been harmed by abuse as outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth People and our own Safe Environment Policies and Procedures.
“As a precaution, all clergy, employees, and volunteers, who are accused of abuse or misconduct involving minors or vulnerable adults, may be placed on temporary administrative leave by the Diocese. The presumption of innocence, which is also set out in the Charter, should be accorded to those who are presently accused.
“The Diocese seeks truth and justice. It holds accountable those who have abused children and the vulnerable.
“We continue to pray for all those who have been injured by abuse or maltreatment.”
Attempts to speak with Rebecca Randles, the Kansas City attorney representing the plaintiffs, have not yet been successful.
About the plaintiff from Springfield
C.L., the plaintiff who lived in Springfield as a child, was born in 1974. C.L. was between 9 and 12 years of age in 1984-1987, when the alleged abuse occurred. The suit does not specify what church C.L. attended or where the alleged abuse occurred.
But in the portion of the 44-page suit that describes C.L.’s allegations, the attorney wrote, “St. Canera’s Catholic Church was under the direct supervision, employ and control” of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.
There is a St. Canera’s Catholic in Neosho.
According to the suit, C.L. was serving as an altar boy when a pastor C.L. had known for about a year brought C.L. to the rectory and molested C.L.
“These events occurred approximately monthly for a two year period,” the attorney wrote.
C.L. alleges in the suit that a visiting priest also sexually abused C.L.
About the other plaintiffs
The other 10 plaintiffs were born between 1962 and 1989.
All but one attended Catholic churches throughout southern Missouri. One alleged he was not raised Catholic, but was sexually assaulted by a youth pastor when he attended an overnight event with his youth group at St. Joseph’s Parish in Advance.
Three of the plaintiffs are females.