Missouri Attorneys Investigating Sexual Assault Claims Against the Roman Catholic Church Archdioceses
In recent years, Missouri dioceses have released lists of priests serving Roman Catholic parishioners who have been credibly accused of sexually assaulting innocent children and adults. Many of their victims were prepubescent when the sexual misconduct occurred. Parents trusted the Catholic Church to provide a safe environment, and instead, their children were abused by priests.
All of the victims have felt betrayed by the minister, priest, pastor, bishop, brother, sister, deacon, or teacher that caused them harm and stripped away the spiritual bond and trust they had. Many of the survivors have lived a lifetime of failed relationships, trust issues, ongoing shame, self-abuse problems, and self-destructive behavior.
Not every sexual abuse survivor can speak out about the horrific assault they experienced until months or years later. The compassionate network of affiliate attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, can help you or a loved one with legal assistance involving surviving sexual assault.
Our caring team of legal representatives will fight on your behalf to protect your rights and provide a safe place to talk about what happened. Our clergy sexual abuse injury attorneys are here to listen to your story. We have a comprehensive understanding of Missouri tort law and will use the legal system to ensure the perpetrator faces the consequences they deserve for their unacceptable behavior.
Clergy Sexual Assault – The Problem Remains
In February 2020, Stanford County law enforcement charged Reverend Frederick Lutz, a retired Catholic priest, with forced sodomy, statutory sodomy and felony sexual abuse related to sex crime allegations while Lutz served as a St. Joseph Parish priest (Advance, MO).
Court documents reveal that one of the survivors alleges the priest sexually assaulted him when he was attending St. Joseph Parish public school religion classes as an underage child. The teenager had spoken up and told his father in February 2000, who then talked to the school to determine if others had come forward to report inappropriate sexual contact between Lutz and other children.
As a result of the litany of accusations of clergy sex abuse, the Catholic Church in Missouri is facing a number of abuse cases.
The Devastating Effects of Sexual Assault
Sexual assault victims often live a life of uncertainty and ongoing devastation that negatively affects their well-being. Children and adults who have been sexually assaulted can suffer from significant sleeping disorders, years of depression, substance abuse, self-injury, and thoughts about suicide.
Young children and teenage victims might develop negative eating habits, begin living an over-sexualized lifestyle, or engage in any form of risky behavior.
Holding an Abuser Accountable
In 2019, the Springfield/Cape Girardeau Diocese paid out over $700,000 to resolve clergy sexual abuse claims that date back over three decades. As a part of the settlement, the Bishop apologized.
A lawsuit resolution between the Roman Catholic Church in Missouri includes an agreement to pay for $636,000 directly to victims of sexual assault committed by church clergy. The agreement also pays out an additional $70,000 to cover the victims’ medications, counseling, and future funeral bills.
The report indicates that sixteen religious leaders were credibly accused of inappropriate sexual contact with minors dating back to 1956.
In September 2019, the Missouri Attorney General referred a dozen former religious leaders for criminal prosecution. Attorney General Eric Schmitt believes that formal charges involving sexual abuse with minors should be filed against the priests in cases that date back nearly eight decades. The attorney general’s office continues to look into claims of sex-abuse and cover-ups. The allegations of abuse may still result in criminal prosecution for a number of accused priests.
A lengthy report released details of an investigation covering over 2000 religious leaders serving in local parishes beginning in 1985. These leaders included religious women, seminarians, and deacons who work for the Roman Catholic Church in Missouri and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Missouri Roman Catholic Church Diocese
In Missouri, the Catholic Church is the single largest religious group of all faiths statewide. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Louis, three dioceses, and their Bishops manage more than 475 parishes and over 300 Catholic schools across the state (listed below). The Church provides services to hundreds of thousands of registered Catholics living in 114 counties.
Missouri Dioceses
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
20 W 9th St
Kansas City, MO 64105
Bishop: James Vann Johnston, Jr.
Cathedral: The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Kansas City)
Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City
2207 W Main St
Jefferson City, MO 65109
(573) 635-9127
Bishop: Shawn McKnight
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield – Cape Girardeau
601 S Jefferson Ave
Springfield, MO 65806
(417) 866-0841
Bishop: Edward M. Rice
Cathedral: Saint Agnes Cathedral (Springfield)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Louis
20 Archbishop May Dr
St. Louis, MO 63119
(314) 792-7000
Bishop: Robert James Carlson
Cathedral: Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
The Missouri Statute of Limitations
Unlike other states, Missouri has not passed a law giving a window for those who suffered from child sexual abuse to sue even when the statute of limitations has expired. Missouri’s statute of limitations requires those who suffered from alleged abuse to file lawsuits within ten years of their 18th birthday or within three years after discovering that they suffered a personal injury from the abuse.
Missouri Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers are Ready to Help
Our network of attorneys understands the many challenges of speaking out about what occurred by a clergy member. We know how powerful the church is at pushing back to say they have done nothing wrong and protecting Catholic clergy.
However, with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, working on your behalf, you will never be alone. We will work aggressively to ensure your shocking story will be heard before settling your case or when presenting evidence of abuse by former priests in front of a judge and jury.
We can begin working on your case today. Talk to us now so we can file a lawsuit. Taking the first step in filing a claim can ensure that no one else will ever be sexually assaulted or abused by a religious authority again. We will protect your rights and obtain financial compensation on your behalf.
Contact us now at (888) 424-5757. All information you share during an initial, free consultation concerning your case will remain confidential.
All Missouri Churches:
Advance Catholic Parish, St. Joseph
All Saints Catholic Parish, St. Peters
All Saints Catholic Parish, University City
All Souls Catholic Parish, Overland
Annunciation Catholic Church, California
Annunciation Catholic Parish, Webster Groves
Annunziata, Church of the Catholic Parish, Ladue
Ascension Catholic Parish, Chesterfield
Assumption Catholic Church, Morrison
Assumption Catholic Parish, Mattese
Assumption Catholic Parish, New Haven
Assumption Catholic Parish, O’Fallon
Aurora Catholic Parish, Holy Trinity
Ava Catholic Parish, St. Leo the Great Mission Church
Benton Catholic Parish, St. Denis
Billings Catholic Parish, St. Joseph
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish, Bethany
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Parish, Ferguson
Bolivar Catholic Parish, Sacred Heart
Branson Catholic Parish, Our Lady of the Lake
Buffalo Catholic Parish, St. William
Bunker Catholic Parish, Christ the King Mission Church
Cabool Catholic Parish, St. Michael Mission Church
Cape Girardeau Catholic Parish, Old St. Vincent Chapel
Cape Girardeau Catholic Parish, St. Mary of the Annunciation
Cape Girardeau Catholic Parish, St. Vincent de Paul
Carthage Catholic Parish, St. Ann
Caruthersville Catholic Parish, Sacred Heart
Cassville Catholic Parish, St. Edward
Cathedral of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Jefferson City
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, Kansas City
Chaffee Catholic Parish, St. Ambrose
Charleston Catholic Parish, St. Henry
Christ the King Catholic Parish, Kansas City
Christ the King Catholic Parish, University City
Christ the Savior Catholic Parish, Brewer
Christ, Prince of Peace Catholic Parish, Manchester
Church of Santa Fe Catholic Parish, Buckner
Church of the Annunciation Catholic Parish, Kearney
Church of the Good Shepherd Catholic Parish, Smithville
Church of the Holy Martyrs Catholic Parish, Kansas City
Church of the Resurrection Catholic Parish, Wellsville
Church of the Risen Savior Catholic Parish, Rhineland
Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph Catholic Parish, St Joseph
Conway Catholic Parish, Sacred Heart
Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Parish, Grandview
Curé of Ars Catholic Parish, Shrewsbury
Dexter Catholic Parish, Sacred Heart
Doniphan Catholic Parish, St. Benedict
El Dorado Springs Catholic Parish, St. Elizabeth
Eminence Catholic Parish, St. Sylvester Mission Church
Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Parish, St. Louis
Forsyth Catholic Parish, Our Lady of the Ozarks
Fredericktown Catholic Parish, St. Michael
Gainesville Catholic Parish, St. William Mission Church
Glennon Catholic Parish, St. Anthony Mission Church
Glennonville Catholic Parish, St. Teresa
Good Shepherd, Church of the Catholic Parish, Hillsboro
Grandin Catholic Parish, St. Anne Mission Church (Closed)
Greenfield Catholic Parish, St. Patrick Mission Church
Guardian Angels Catholic Parish, Kansas City
Holy Cross Catholic Church, Cuba
Holy Cross Catholic Parish, Kansas City
Holy Family Catholic Church, Freeburg
Holy Family Catholic Church, Hannibal
Holy Family Catholic Church, Sweet Springs
Holy Family Catholic Parish, Kansas City
Holy Family Catholic Parish, Port Hudson
Holy Guardian Angels Catholic Church, Brinktown
Holy Infant Catholic Parish, Ballwin
Holy Martyrs of Japan, Church of the Catholic Parish, Japan
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish, Bissell Hills
Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish, Webster Groves
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Monroe City
Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, Clinton
Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, Kansas City
Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, Warrenton
Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Centralia
Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Lees Summit
Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Maryland Heights
Holy Trinity (Mission of St. Patrick, Holden) Catholic Parish, Urich
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, St. Ann
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Weston
Houston Catholic Parish, St. Mark
Humansville Catholic Parish, St. Catherine Mission Church
Immacolata Catholic Parish, Richmond Heights
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Brookfield
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Jefferson City
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Loose Creek
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Macon
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Montgomery City
Sexual Abuse Lawyers
In recent years, Missouri dioceses have released lists of priests serving Roman Catholic parishioners who have been credibly accused of sexually assaulting innocent children and adults. Many of their victims were prepubescent when the sexual misconduct occurred. Parents trusted the Catholic Church to provide a safe environment, and instead, their children were abused by priests.