Advocates say diocese left names off list of abusive priests
After the Jefferson City diocese released the names of more than 30 priests credibly accused of sexual abuse against a minor, a victims’ advocacy group said the list is incomplete.
David Clohessy, of the St. Louis branch of the Survivor’s Network of those Abused by Priests, said Thursday during an event in Jefferson City that three names were omitted from the list. The men had ties to Missouri and mid-Missouri, but the church said the men never worked in the diocese.
“(Bishop Shawn McKnight) should make that a truly inclusive list, if his goal is to truly protect the flock,” Clohessy said.
Clohessy claims the Revs. Kenneth J. Roberts, Frederick A. Lenczycki and John C. Baskett were omitted from the list. Baskett is deceased and the others are no longer in the Jefferson City area, Clohessy said.
The Diocese of Jefferson City said none of the three were formally welcomed into the diocese.
“SNAP’s assertations that the Diocese of Jefferson City omitted three men from its list of credibly accused are not correct,” diocese spokeswoman Helen Osman said in a statement. “None of the three men requested or received permission to function as a priest in the Diocese of Jefferson City.”
Clohessy said he is skeptical of the church’s ability to conduct a thorough internal search for accused abusers.
“If kids are going to be protected, and victims are going to get healing, it will come when all of the names of the wrongdoers are exposed,” Clohessy said.
Missouri Attorney General and U.S. Sen.-elect Josh Hawley is conducting a review into all four dioceses in the state. The Diocese of Jefferson City volunteered to cooperate with Hawley’s office in August.
Clohessy said he is also skeptical of Hawley’s inquiry, saying the church is not under enough scrutiny.
“Hawley is relying on the voluntary cooperation of Catholic bishops in Missouri, which we think is just not going to produce a very helpful response,” Clohessy said.
Hawley responded to criticisms of the robustness of the review on Twitter this week.
The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau also conducted an internal review and released the names of 13 priests accused of sexual abuse of a minor. To access that list, click here.
