Parents Upset over Reassignment of Priest Formerly Accused of Sexual Abuse

KMOV
May 23, 2018

http://www.kmov.com/story/38262878/parents-upset-over-reassignment-of-priest-formerly-accused-of-sexual-abuse

Rev. Joseph Jiang, ordained 5/29/2010. 2010 photo By Life Touch Studios

Several parents of students at St. Gabriel the Archangel School are angry over the re-assignment of Father Joseph Jiang.

“It has a lot of parents very upset,” said a parent of a St. Gabriel the Archangel School student.In 2013, the 32-year-old was accused of touching a 16-year-old.

According to police, the victim says the 32-year-old fondled her on four different occasions at her home in Old Monroe, Missouri. In 2015, a woman claimed Jiang sexually abused her son in a bathroom at St. Louis the King Elementary School.

“He’s obviously exhibited horrible judgment," said a parent of a St. Gabriel the Archangel School student.

Criminal charges were eventually dropped in both cases and soon, Father Jiang will be walking the halls of St. Gabriel.

“I absolutely don’t think he belongs here," said a parent of a St. Gabriel the Archangel School student. "He should be assigned a duty that has no children anywhere near it and the Catholic church should know that.”

The 32-year-old was ordained in May 2010 and since then, he’s only spent 2 and half years actively preaching due to sexual abuse allegations.

Parents are planning to hold a meeting on May 31st where they’ll discuss their concerns over Father Jiang’s reassignment.