22 Accused in This Diocese
- Boston Globe 03.18.02
- Springfield News Leader 03.18.02
- Associated Press 03.19.02
- Springfield News Leader 03.19.02
- Springfield News Leader 03.20.02
- Batesville Daily Guard 03.20.02
- Deposition of Cardinal Bernard Law 06.05.02
- Dallas Morning News 06.12.02
- The Mirror 03.22.03
- Springfield News Leader 01.01.08
- Joplin Globe 05.01.17
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List 11.19.18
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List updated 04.13.21
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau 10.08.18
- Springfield News-Leader 10.08.18
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau 10.08.18
- BolivarMoNews 10.10.18
- Buffalo Reflex 10.10.18
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List 11.19.18
- Associated Press 02.19.20
- KFVS 02.19.20
- KFVS 12 02.20.20
- Riverfront Times 02.21.20
- Springfield News-Leader 02.25.20
- The Post Dispatch 02.25.20
- Associated Press 03.19.02
- Springfield News Leader 03.19.02
- Batesville Daily Guard 03.20.02
- Springfield News Leader 03.20.02
- Dallas Morning News 06.12.02
- Sikeston Standard Democrat 09.16.02
- Southeast Missourian 09.17.02
- The Mirror 03.22.03
- News Leader 01.01.08
- Joplin Globe 05.01.17
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List 11.19.18
Fr. Wayne J. Barron
Order: CMF
Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused
Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused
Died: 05/29/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO
Named publicly as accused by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese on its list updated 4/1/19. It notes alleged abused in 1972, reported in 2003. Removed from ministry in the 1990s. Died 5/29/11. Included in 10/22 on the Chicago archdiocese's list.
Fr. John A. Brath
First named publicly as accused by diocese in 10/18. Parish priest. In Air Force 1971-74. Retired in 2007. Died 6/25/14. Allegedly sexually abused a minor in the 1970s.
Fr. Gary M. Carr
In 4/20 the diocese announced that its review board had determined that there was a "semblance of truth" to a recent allegation that, 30 years prior, Carr engaged in inappropriate contact with a boy, ages 10-13. Carr had been placed on leave with restricted ministry in 2008 due to "boundary violations." Reportedly, parents reported to church authorities for years behavior including Carr's parading around in a makeshift diaper at a grade school Mardi Gras party and wrestling shirtless with 5th grade boys. He retired in 11/19, a month after an allegation was reported. By 7/20 there were new credible allegations by three men that Carr sexually abused them as children in the 1980s and 1990s. In 7/20 Carr was living in St. Louis. On the Diocese of Little Rock's list in 12/20, where he filled-in 10/20-10/30 at St. John the Baptist Latin Mass Community. Included on the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's 4/13/21 list of accused.
Fr. Leonard R. Chambers
Bernard Law, then Bishop of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese, responded to a 1981 allegation against Chambers by sending him for extended treatment and then reassigning him to two other parishes. Chambers was placed on restrictions in the mid-1990s by Bishop Leibrecht. Permanently removed from ministry in 1998 after violating the order forbidding him to be alone with any child. He had worked in a total of 22 parishes. Not indexed in the Official Catholic Directory after 2002, and is last known to have been living in Joplin. Per the diocese's list in 11/18, Chambers was laicized in 2006. Its updated list in 4/21 shows his laicization to have been on 12/9/05.
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Fr. Walter G J Craig
Ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Louis; became priest of Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese when it was established in 1956. In late 2012, the diocese announced it had received a credible complaint that Craig sexually abused a boy in the mid-1960s. Craig was assigned to Immaculate Conception in New Madrid at that time. He died 12/16/71. On Springfield-Cape Girardeau's list 11/19/18. On the St. Louis archdiocese's list 7/26/19.
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Fr. Eugene Deragowski
Ordained for the Diocese of Kansas City, MO, prior to creation of the Springfield Cape-Girardeau diocese in 1956. Diocese announced in 12/06 that in 10/06 it had received a complaint that Deragowski sexually abused a minor in the 1960s. Deragowski died in 1981. A second allegation of abuse in the 1960s was made in 1/07. On the diocese's list 11/19/18. Included on the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese's list 9/5/19.
Fr. William E. Donovan
Died 2/9/75. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list updated 3/15/19. Allegedly abused a minor in 1968. In 11/19 the diocese announced that it had received a second allegation, of abuse 1968-72.
Fr. Wallace G. Ellinger
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list updated 3/15/19. Allegedly abused a minor in the 1960s. Ellinger was laicized in 1976 and went on to marry, settling in Austin, TX. He died in 2007.
Fr. Mark C. Ernstmann
Monsignor. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 11/19/18. Alleged to have had "sexual interactions" with a 17-year-old in the early 1970s. It was first reported to the diocese in 2002, and again in 2018. Ernstmann retired in 2004 and died 8/7/13. Included on the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese's list 9/5/19.
Fr. Lawrence E. Gregovich
Forced to retire in 1992 over allegations that he abused at least three boys 1982-85, while pastor of Immaculate Conception in New Madrid. Parents of one youth came forward in 1992. Died 2/2/17. New complaint of abuse late 1970s-early 1980s announced by diocese 5/17. On diocese's list 11/19/17.
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Fr. Stephen A. Juda
Order: CR
Ordained: 1942
Status: Accused
Ordained: 1942
Status: Accused
Died: 10/10/2006
Diocese: Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO
Named publicly as accused by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese on its list updated 4/1/19. It notes an incident in 1972, reported in 2004. Died in 2006, age 91. Included in 10/22 on the Chicago archdiocese's list of credibly accused.
Fr. Frederick J. Lutz
First named publicly by diocese as accused in 10/18. It notes that 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. On leave 1981-87 and 2009. Retired 2011. After a MO A.G. investigation, Lutz was arrested and charged 2/18/20 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 2/20 that it knew in 2002 of the allegations. Lutz pled not guilty.
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Fr. Ernest Marquart
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list updated 3/15/19. It notes a review of Marquart's file yielded an allegation in 2003 that Marquart took inappropriate photos of youths swimming in the 1980s. Ministry restricted.
Fr. Paul McHugh
In 10/02 a man alleged abuse by McHugh as a boy in 1982. Bernard Law was bishop of the diocese at the time of the alleged abuse. The man said he told Bishop Law on two occasions (once was before McHugh's death) but Law did not want to hear the details and told him not to tell anyone. McHugh died 6/4/83. Bishop Law presided at weekend masses in the parish for two months. The man said that he approached the Bishop for the second time then. Included on the diocese's list 11/19/18.
Fr. Edgar Probstfield
Order: OSB
Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused
Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused
Died: 02/11/2007
Diocese: Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO
Named publicly as accused by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese on its list updated 4/1/19. Abuse allegedly occurring in the 1970s was reported in 2014. Probstfield died 2/11/07. Included on the Conception Abbey Benedictines list 8/5/19. Given name is Victor David Probstfield. Brother of accused priest Regis Probstfield, O.S.B.
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Fr. John J. Rynish
Monsignor. Retired in 1993. Died 9/23/01. First named publicly as accused by diocese in 10/18. Allegedly sexually abused a minor in the early 1970s. Included on the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese's list 9/5/19.
Fr. Mark Santo
Worked in a number of dioceses, including Chicago, Winona, Lansing, Miami, Los Angeles. Assignments included parishes, schools, and prison ministry. Named publicly as accused by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese on its list updated 4/1/19. Alleged abuse in the 1960s reported in 2018. Per news in 1993, a friend of Santo's, who was staying with him at the rectory of a Diocese of Winona MN parish, was arrested for possession of child pornography. The Springfield-Cape Giradeau list notes that Santos died in 2013, but the Catholic Directory shows that he died in 2008.
Fr. Stephen A. Schneider
Removed in 2/06 from position at St. Peter the Apostle parish in Joplin after allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor, which were made in 12/05. No information as to when alleged abuse occurred. No criminal charges filed. His actions violated church policy but did not break the law. Died in 2016.
Fr. Amel A. Shibley
Allegations in 1993 and 1995 that Shibley abused two boys in the 1980s. There was reportedly an investigation in the 1980s. Allowed in 1997 to return to ministry part-time as administrator at another parish, with restrictions. Placed on leave again in 3/02, faculties permanently removed. Died 9/13/02. Included on the diocese's list 11/19/18.
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Fr. Bernard Vedder
Named publicly as accused by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese on its list updated 4/1/19. It notes alleged abuse occurring in the 1960s reported in 1995. Per the list, Vedder died in 1993.
Fr. John Wells
Ordained for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Incardinated 1964 into the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Died 12/28/72. Diocese announced in 2/19/18 that it had received an allegation that Wells sexually abused a minor in the late 1960s. He was assigned during that as pastor of St. Joseph's in Advance and St. Anthony Mission in Glennon.
Fr. Louis J. Wyrsch
Diocese announced in 12/07 that it had recently received a credible allegation against Wyrsch involving abuse of a minor about 40 years prior. Worked in Poplar Bluff and Joplin before taking leaving in 1969. Returned as a chaplain at SW Missouri State College in 1970. Left active ministry again in 1973, was laicized in 1989, and died in 1997. On the diocese's list 11/19/18.