Archdiocese Ordered to Release Accused Priest's Names

By Allison Sylte
KSDK
January 10, 2014

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/2014/01/09/st-louis-archdiocese-sexual-abuse-allegations-snap/4397461/

[with video]

KSDK – The St. Louis Archdiocese will have to release the names of the priests who have been accused of sexual abuse after a judge denied a writ of prohibition from the church's lawyers.

"The archdiocese attempted to limit the scope of the order to protect the privacy rights of all involved, including victims who had never expressed desire to be part of public litigation," the Archdiocese wrote in a statement.

Advocacy group SNAP claims the Archdiocese has a pattern of covering up abuse claims.

"We are grateful that this brave young woman is persisting and that the appeals court says Catholic officials must follow the same rules as other defendants in child sex abuse cases," SNAP's director David Clohessy said in a news release.

An appeals court initially ruled that the Archdiocese of St. Louis did not have to release the accused priest's names.