ST. LOUIS (MO)
KTVI FOX 2 [St Louis, MO]
December 31, 2025
By Joey Schneider
ST. LOUIS – The Archdiocese of St. Louis has asked a judge to dismiss several counts in a lawsuit alleging decades of clergy sexual abuse, arguing the claims do no meet Missouri’s legal standards to proceed.
The lawsuit, filed in July 2024 on behalf of 25 individuals, accuses the Archdiocese of enabling, covering up and concealing the sexual abuse of children by clergy and other employees over several decades.
The 74-page lawsuit lists at least 30 clergy members under the authority of the Archdiocese and the archbishop who have been accused of sexual misconduct. It describes alleged abuse dating back to 1945 and includes reports of alleged abuse as recently as 2021.
The lawsuit states, “the Archdiocese and Archbishop did not act in any manner to protect the young children of its parishes, churches, community, and other organizations within its ambit… Instead of removing the Abusers from their employ and control and reporting the abuse to authorities as required by law, Defendants enabled and emboldened Abusers to continue perpetrating horrific conduct upon Plaintiffs by giving Defendants’ employees, agents, and servants unfettered access to Plaintiffs and other children.”
Only the plaintiff’s initials are listed in the original lawsuit, rather than full names.
According to court documents, on Dec. 23, the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski filed a motion to dismiss seven of 10 counts of misconduct alleged in the lawsuit. Those include:
- Childhood sexual abuse (Count I)
- Negligent failure to supervise children and report sexual abuse (Count III)
- Negligence (Count IV)
- Fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud (Count V)
- Constructive fraud (Count VII)
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress (Count IX)
- Abiding and abetting (Count X)
The Archdiocese’s request presented range of arguments to dismiss seven counts. Those included claims that Missouri law does not permit abuse-related claims against institutions rather than perpetrators, assertions that certain defendants cannot be held liable under state law, and arguments that some allegations would require courts to improperly interfere in matters of church governance.
The motion asks the court to dismiss seven counts, but does not request the dismissal of the lawsuit in its entirety or set a deadline for a ruling.
No decision has been made since the Dec. 23 filing, according to Missouri court records. The next scheduled proceeding is a counsel trial hearing set for Jan. 5, 2026.
FOX 2 has reached out to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, but our request for comment has not been returned as of this story’s initial publication.
by: Joey Schneider