Archdiocese Ordered to Surrender Names of Priests Accused of Abuse

By Brian Kelly
KMOX
December 31, 2013

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/12/31/archdiocese-ordered-to-surrender-names-of-priests-accused-of-abuse/

For the second time this year, a St. Louis Circuit Judge has ordered the St. Louis Archdiocese to turn over the names of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse between 1983 and 2003.

The Archdiocese has until Friday to turn surrender the information to the woman who is suing defrocked priest Joseph Ross and the Archdiocese for alleged abuse, and her attorneys.One her attorneys, Ken Chackes says Judge Robert Dierker has ruled the church’s history of dealing with sexual predators is relevant in the case, “He said that both prior history of how they dealt with sexually abusing priests is relevant to the case and how the Archdiocese continued to deal with complaints of sexual abuse even after our client was abused is relevant to the case.”Chackes calls the ruling “groundbreaking”, “It is the first time that a case has gotten this far and that the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been ordered to reveal the names of clergy that have been credibly accused by children.”Chackes says there were 234 credible cases over those 20 years. He cannot say how many priests were accused.

Chackes says the information will not be made public unless it comes out in trial. He adds that the names of the alleged victims will not be released.

The judge issued a similar order in May, but the Archdiocese did not release the information.

The Archdiocese released a statement saying it is reviewing the order with its attorneys.