St. Louis Church Identifies 64 Priests Who Sexually Abused Kids or Possessed Child Porn

(TMU) — On Friday, the Archdiocese of St. Louis released a list of of 64 clergy members who have had credible allegations of sexual abuse made against them.

Of the 64 members named, 61 of the accused had substantiated molestation of a minor claims against them and three were found in possession of child pornography.

“It will be painful for all of us to see the names of clergy accused of behavior we can barely allow ourselves to imagine. But publishing their names is the right thing to do,” the Archdiocese stated in a press release.

“For years, victims have carried the burden of the crimes committed against them. In talking with many of them, I have witnessed the devastating impact on their lives and the lives of their loved ones.”

None of the clergy members named—many of whom are deceased—are currently serving in the ministry.

“Very few names” listed are being publicized for the first time, said Peter Frangie, archdiocese spokesman. “We found nothing new that alarmed us.”

Attorney Nicole Gorovsky says there’s a larger list and feels like the shorter list is a slap in the face to survivors.

“It’s offensive to the survivors who are out there in the community who know they were abused by a priest that’s not on the list,” she told KMOX radio.

In August, the Missouri Attorney General’s office began an investigation into abuse by priests in the Archdiocese after it was revealed that over 1,000 children were sexually abused by hundreds of Roman Catholic clergymen in six Pennsylvania dioceses—while senior officials in the church covered up the improprieties.

There have been no substantiated claims of sexual abuse against a minor in the St. Louis diocese since 2002, according to the church’s report.

By S.M. Gibson | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com