WHAT
At sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will announce the first new civil molestation lawsuit filed after a significant new Missouri Supreme Court ruling last week regarding repressed memory. It’s against a St. Louis priest who has never been publicly accused of abuse before. The victims will also:
- urge molestation victims, to find the courage to speak up and expose their predators,
- urge police, to educate the public about two recent favorable Missouri Supreme Court rulings, and
- urge prosecutors, to use these two new legal tools to pursue more predators and protect more kids.
WHEN
TODAY, Wednesday, June 21, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the courthouse in Clayton, southeast corner of N. Central & Carondelet (on the Plaza near the county government building, ‘catty corner’ from the jail) in downtown Clayton
WHO
An attorney and several clergy abuse victims who belong to a national support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (The victim, ‘John Doe,’ will NOT be there.)
WHY
This new lawsuit accuses Fr. John R. McDonough of molesting a 12-13 year old boy who belonged to Little Flower Catholic Church in Richmond Heights in 1981-82. The crime took place on an outing to Kenrick Seminary in Shrewsbury. McDonough is now deceased.
Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court decided to allow more civil child molestation cases to proceed if youngsters repressed memories of the trauma. Late in 2004, the same court ruled that more criminal child molestation cases could also proceed. Victims are applauding both decisions. The rulings (especially the civil decision) will permit more people to use the courts to expose predators, warn parents, and protect children (especially those who learn/realize that their sexual abuse as kids still harms them as adults).
Last week’s ruling involved two accused St. Louis Catholic clerics (Fr. William Christiansen & Br. John Woulfe). The 1994 criminal ruling involved another St. Louis predator priest (Fr. Thomas Graham).
Now more than ever, SNAP says, others who have been molested should come forward, get help, consider legal action, and contact law enforcement, so that innocent youngsters can be spared lifetimes of suffering. SNAP has written police chiefs and prosecutors across the state, prodding them to make use of the new criminal provision. Prosecutors in St. Louis city and Jefferson County have already done so.
McDonough was ordained in 1965 and died in 1985. He worked at one city parish (St. Pius X, 1965-68), and five county parishes: St Jerome in Bissel Hills (1969-76), All Saints in University City (1977), Mary Queen of Peace in Webster Groves (1978-80), Little Flower in Richmond Heights (1981-83) and St. Timothy in Afton (1984).
At the same time, SNAP members are holding a news conference in Columbia, urging victims to come forward and prosecutors to pursue charges because of the recent court rulings.
CONTACT
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director (314) 566-9790 cell
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Coordinator (314) 862-7688
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