Sixty Allegations of Childhood Abuse Filed Against Catholic Clergy in Missouri

ST. LOUIS (AP) — In a significant legal development, sixty individuals have filed lawsuits in Missouri alleging childhood sexual abuse by various Catholic clergy, including Omaha Archbishop George Lucas. The lawsuits, which were submitted this week in St. Louis and surrounding counties, seek unspecified damages and name multiple accused parties, highlighting a troubling pattern of abuse within the Church. One of the lawsuits, filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court, claims that Lucas, who was a priest and dean of education at the now-closed St. Louis Preparatory Seminary in the late 1980s, sexually abused a 16-year-old boy. The accuser alleges that Lucas offered improved grades in exchange for sexual favors. In response, Lucas has categorically denied the allegations, asserting that he has never engaged in any sexual contact and has referred the matter to the apostolic nuncio for further guidance. David Clohessy, a representative from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), expressed concern over the safety of children, noting that at least ten of the alleged abusers are still alive. Some of the accused have a history of criminal convictions or have been named in previous civil cases. One particularly disturbing allegation involves a priest and a nun who reportedly abused a girl with an intellectual disability over several years. The lawsuits describe a long-standing cover-up within the Church, allowing numerous clergy members to exploit vulnerable children. The Archdiocese of St. Louis has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.