JEFFERSON CITY (MO)
KRCG-TV, Ch. 13 [Jefferson City MO]
September 19, 2024
By Grace Gilles
The Jefferson City Catholic Diocese and Bishop Shawn McKnight are facing a lawsuit from victims, who alleged abuse happened at churches in the Capitol city.
In the last week, five survivors sued the group, accusing anywhere from four to five church officials of sexual abuse over the past few decades. In a statement to KRCG 13, Bishop McKnight said those accused includeThomas Duggan, Gerald Howard (formerly Carmen Sita),Fr. Francis Gillgannon,“Fr. Darr” and “Fr. Dave.”
According to the diocese, Duggan, Howard and Gillgannon are all deceased. Prior to the recent allegations, both Duggan and Howardhad committed other offenses, and had been listed on the diocese’s public registry of clergy credibly accused of misconduct.
Additionally,Bishop McKnight said there is no record of a “Fr. Darr” ever serving in the Diocese of Jefferson City. The diocese is currently working to identify a “Fr. Dave.” However, the church confirmed the allegation does not refer to any current Jefferson City Catholic Diocese priest named David.
In an effort to call for more transparency from the church, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) hosted a demonstration Thursday morning. SNAP member David Clohessy said the group is focused on protecting kids and exposing predators, all while preventing future crimes.
“Being silent helps no one,” Clohessy said. “No one but the wrong-doers.”
According toClohessy, Thursday’s event was held at theImmaculate Conception Catholic Church because it is where one of the victim’s alleged abuse occurred. A survivor himself,Clohessy said he has met over 2,000 victims over the course of 35 years.
“It’s not like I lost my faith,” Clohessy said. “My faith was stolen from me.”
Like many survivors,Clohessy stayed quiet about any abuse he faced in Jefferson City for years. It wasn’t until he later discovered the same official that abused him also committed crimes against his three siblings, thatClohessy decided to speak out.
“What I’ve found is that the more I talk about the crimes I’ve suffered, the less I feel helpless,” Clohessy said.
He called for officials to release more information surrounding the current allegations made against the diocese.
“None of them, as best we can tell, are behind bars or are being supervised or are being monitored,”Clohessy said.”Any of them could be coaching soccer this morning. Any of them could be tutoring kids.”
Clohessy also wrote out the names of current clerics in the Jefferson City Catholic Diocese accused of child-molesting in chalk at the event. He said while victims often face many hardships following abuse, including unemployment, thoughts of self-harm and substance abuse, having their trauma acknowledged helps heal.
“Most victims suffer literally for decades in shame, in silence, in self-blame,”Clohessy said. “If you go to the Jefferson City Diocese’s website and you see that the bishop has at least put the abuser’s name on there, that does in fact provide a level of comfort.”
He said continuing to hold the church accountable, while raising awareness about abuse may help stop the cycle moving forward.
“The more we talk about it, the more we heal,”Clohessy said. “Anyone who listens is going to be a little more careful with their own children.”