Fr. Frederick J. Lutz

Ordained: 1973
Status: Charged

Diocese: Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO

First named publicly by the Diocese in 10/2018 as accused. Lutz allegedly sexually abused a minor in the early 1970s. In 2006 a man told the Diocese that Lutz abused him at age 17 in 1972 at St. Mary’s in Cape Girardeau. Lutz was on leave 1981-1987 and in 2009. He retired in 2011. After an investigation by the Missouri Attorney General, Lutz was arrested and charged 2/18/2020 with multiple counts of child sex abuse, including forcible sodomy, of a 17-year-old boy in 2000, in the rectory of St. Joseph’s in Advance. A Catholic school teacher was reportedly told about the abuse a few days after it allegedly occurred, and Lutz apologized to the boy’s father. The Diocese admitted in 2/2020 that it knew in 2002 of the allegations. Lutz pleaded not guilty.

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