Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse Worked in Kirksville

By Jason Hunsicker
Daily Express
September 8, 2015

http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/article/20150908/NEWS/150909005

A priest accused of sexually abusing a Moberly child in the 1960s and 1970s later worked at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Kirksville before abuse allegations led to the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City placing him on leave.

According to an Associated Press report, David Clohessy received a $40,000 check from the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City late last week. The check came with a stipulation that Clohessy would not take further legal action against the diocese.

Clohessy had alleged he was sexually abused by Rev. John Whiteley at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Moberly, Mo. According to bishopaccountability.org, Whiteley worked at St. Pius X in 1969 and 1970.

Clohessy had first sued the diocese in 1991, but that suit was dismissed in 1993 because the statute of limitations had expired. The diocese placed Whiteley on leave in 1991 after sexual abuse allegations surfaced and he has not since served as a priest in the diocese.

Representatives from the diocese met with Clohessy earlier this year after he had contacted the diocese again regarding Whiteley and requested $200,000 for therapy and medical expenses. In a statement, the diocese stated a bishop wrote to Clohessy after the meeting to apologize for the abuse he reported and the diocese later decided to provide “monetary assistance” “to help (Clohessy) with his needs for healing.”

The Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City verified Tuesday that Whiteley was a priest at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Kirksville from 1970 through 1975.

The diocese stated it in a press release that after 1991, when Whiteley was placed on leave, it had received no complaints regarding sexual misconduct by Whiteley.

Deacon Dan Joyce, director of communications for the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City, declined to disclose whether the diocese had received any complaints about Whiteley during his time in Kirksville.

He did direct anyone who has been abused by a representative of the church to contact their local law enforcement officials and Mike Berendzen, review administrator for the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City.