Fr. Sylvester J. Hoppe

Ordained: 1946
Status: Settled

Died: 11/10/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph MO

A man filed suit in California in 6/2002 alleging sexual abuse by Hoppe for three years, beginning when the man was age 12 in 1951. Per the suit, the abuse took place in MO and at Boy Scout Jamboree in California. Hoppe, age 90, was banned from celebrating mass. His accuser said he told police in 1985; no record of his complaint found. Hoppe died in 11/2002. The suit settled in 9/2003 for $10K. Two more men filed suit in 2005 alleging abuse by Hoppe in the 1950s.  Claims settled in 8/2008 as part of a $10M settlement involving 12 priests. In 12/2017 the Diocese confirmed that there was a seventh claim of child sexual abuse against Hoppe, dating to 1953-1956. His name was included on the Diocese’s list 9/5/19 of clergy with substantiated allegations.

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