ST. LOUIS (MO)
Kansas City Star [Kansas City MO]
December 5, 2024
By Kendrick Calfee
One man among a group suing the Archdiocese of St. Louis for allegations of sexual abuse, and its cover-up, has dismissed his claim that a man alleged to now be a Kansas City deacon abused him in the 1980s, online court records show.
However, Ralph Wehner, a Kansas City deacon, remains suspended from ministry while church officials investigate the claim, a Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese spokesperson said. A man identified as W.C. in court documents dismissed his claim of abuse by Wehner on Nov. 21.
The lawsuit, filed July 24, accuses St. Louis church officials of covering up abuse by clergy and staff for decades. Dozens of plaintiffs are listed on the suit.
One plaintiff, W.C., alleged that “Brother Ralph Wehner” had groped and fondled him at least three times when W.C. was a teenager.
The plaintiff’s attorney, Todd Mathews, said in an email that W.C. voluntarily dismissed the claim for personal reasons, but no other information was available. Mathews said he appreciates the public respecting the survivor’s privacy in the matter.
“We look forward to continuing to vigorously represent all of those survivors who have suffered horrific sexual abuse by vicious predators,” Mathews said in an email.
Months after the suit was filed, the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has not confirmed or denied that the Ralph Wehner accused in the lawsuit is the same man who serves as a deacon at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Kansas City. He was placed on a “precautionary suspension” in August from practicing diaconal ministry after an advocacy group publicized their concerns.
Ashlie Hand, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, said church officials have made an effort to investigate the claim, but the claimant has “not been willing to cooperate.”
“The complainant has been unresponsive to our requests through legal counsel to participate in our investigation into the accusations,”
Hand said in an email. Hand said Wehner remains on suspension until the Diocese ombudsman presents his findings, or lack thereof, to the church’s Internal Review Board for its recommendation. The Diocese did not provide a timeline for when the board will review the findings.
Our Lady of Good Counsel’s website says Wehner originally hails from St. Louis and came to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in 2009.
In August, Hand said the diocese in Kansas City was “able to identify enough additional details to make a potential connection to Dcn. Ralph Wehner.”
Advocacy group calls for transparency from church
The Missouri chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests has called on the diocese to be transparent with church members throughout its investigation into the sex abuse claim.
David Clohessy, the organization’s Missouri director, said SNAP has urged church officials to make clear appeals to the public to share any information about known or suspected crimes or cover ups. Thus far, church officials have failed to do that, Clohessy said.
“Church officials should do this now, reminding their flock that ‘the truth shall set you free’ and that they have a moral and civic duty to help protect kids and help unearth the facts,” Clohessy said.
Most often in abuse and cover up cases, Clohessy said survivors dismiss their claims because litigation can be stressful and that plaintiffs, “wisely put (their) own psychological health and stability first.”
Clohessy said that by now, Missouri Catholic officials should have been able to determine if the Kansas City deacon is the same man who was accused in St. Louis. To not say so either way and fail to inform parishioners is irresponsible, Clohessy said.
“We strongly suspect that for almost five months now, bishops have known this is the same man but to selfishly protect their reputations, comfort and assets, they’re hiding this fact,” he said. “If they claim they’re still not sure, It’s really hard to believe them.”
Hand said in an email to The Star that the diocese takes accusations of abuse seriously, and that the church asks anyone with knowledge of abuse to report it.
“The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph takes all allegations of misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect and compassion,” the diocesan office of communications said in an email.
In August, Hand said the diocese’s investigation would include meetings and interviews and additional fact-finding. The diocese has been reviewing the details of the lawsuit and working to gather enough details to determine an appropriate action.
In an email, the diocesan office of communications said Wehner’s precautionary suspension from ministry should not be viewed as a punishment or an indication of wrongdoing, but rather a protective measure for everyone involved.
“We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when the abuse may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the diocese’s confidential report line 816-812-2500 or email ombudsman@diocesekcsj.org.”