St. Louis Archdiocese Ordered to Give Priests" Names Accused of Sex Abuse

By Ryan Dean
KSDK
January 1, 2014

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/2014/01/01/st-louis-archdiocese-sex-abuse-priests-names-snap/4277285/

[with video]

The Archdiocese of St. Louis has until Friday 5 p.m. to release the names of priests accused of sex abuse throughout the past 20 years, according to court documents released Tuesday morning.

The priests' names will not be made public, according to the documents. They will remain sealed and will only be seen by the plaintiff and her lawyer in an ongoing civil case against the Archdiocese.

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priest held a small demonstration Tuesday near the Cathedral Basilica applauding the ruling. However, they say the names of the accused should be made public.

"We think the public should be given these names. Several Catholic bishops across the country have released names voluntarily of predator priests. But, it takes an enormous and long legal struggle in this Archdiocese just to get the names turned over privately in litigation," David Clohessy, director of SNAP, said.

This case started back in October 2011. The unnamed plaintiff accused the Archdiocese and some of its clergy of several wrongdoings including sexual abuse, intentional failure to supervise clergy and negligent supervision of a priest.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis released the following statement Tuesday, "The Archdiocese of St. Louis will review with its attorneys today's court order for the release of identities of victims and accused clergy dating back many years that involve any substantiated allegation of sexual abuse."

Tuesday's court order indicates there are more than 200 cases of "accused individuals" during that time frame.

The Archdiocese can withhold the names of clergy in cases where the church found the complaints to be "unsubstantiated."