The suit says William Poepperling sexually abused "Mary SN Doe" from 1956 to 1959, while he was pastor of Holy Guardian Angels Church, which served residents of public housing complexes in St. Louis.

The suit says the church failed to properly supervise Poepperling and protect the girl from abuse, and that the church's failure was part of a pattern of behavior by the church, including a failure to report the abuse once known.

Poepperling, 78, died of heart problems in 1983. The former Army chaplain served as an assistant pastor at Corpus Christi Church and pastor at Holy Guardian Angels Church and St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in 1964.