New Lawsuits Filed Against Clergy in Missouri for Child Abuse Allegations

In a significant legal development, sixty individuals have filed lawsuits in Missouri alleging childhood sexual abuse by various clergy members, including Omaha Archbishop George Lucas. The lawsuits, which seek unspecified damages, were submitted this week in St. Louis and surrounding counties, highlighting a troubling pattern of abuse within the church. One lawsuit specifically accuses Lucas of abusing a 16-year-old boy in the late 1980s at the now-defunct St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, where he served as a priest and dean of education. Archbishop Lucas has publicly denied the allegations, asserting, “I categorically deny the accusation made by an anonymous person,” and emphasized that he has never engaged in sexual contact with anyone. He has referred the matter to the apostolic nuncio, the representative of Pope Francis in Washington, D.C., for further guidance. The allegations against Lucas and others have raised serious concerns among advocacy groups, particularly regarding the potential for further abuse by living accused clergy. David Clohessy, a representative from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), noted that at least ten of the alleged abusers are still alive, raising fears about the safety of other potential victims. Some of the accused have a history of criminal convictions or have been involved in previous civil cases related to abuse. One particularly disturbing lawsuit details the abuse of a girl with an intellectual disability by both a priest and a nun over several years, illustrating the extensive nature of the alleged cover-up within the church. The lawsuits assert that a systemic failure allowed numerous clergy and employees to exploit vulnerable children over decades, prompting calls for accountability and reform within the Archdiocese. Messages have been left with the Archdiocese of St. Louis for comment on the allegations.