For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug. 30

Cleric Has Never Been Sued Or Publicly Accused Before
He Worked In Kansas City And Lives Now in Independence
The Molestation Was "God's Punishment," Victim Was Told

A Kansas City area Catholic priest who allegedly molested a boy for two years in Hong Kong was sued in St. Louis on Friday.

The cleric, who apparently has never been publicly accused before, belongs to and is supervised by a large, St. Louis-based religious order called the Vincentians.

Father Thomas Cawley was sued in St. Louis Circuit Court by a Michael Johnson of Overland Park, Kansas, who charges that the priest repeatedly molested him from 1979 through 1981. At the time, Johnson was a ten years old altar boy at St. Anne's parish in Hong Kong. Johnson's parents, who are British, were stationed there at the time because of their jobs.

According to the lawsuit, Cawley told Johnson that "the sexual abuse was a form of God’s punishment that the young boy needed."

Also named as defendants are the Midwest Province of the Congregation of the Mission, commonly known as the Vincentians (13663 Rider Trail North, Earth City, a St. Louis suburb) and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. The Vincentians are an international religious order with more than 3,400 priests.

"Abusive religious order priests are often harder to expose and stop," said David Clohessy of St. Louis, national director of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). "Because they move around more and few Catholics know who or where their supervisors are, these predators are reported less often and less successfully."

Clohessy added that he hopes anyone else Cawley may have hurt comes forward. "When victims speak up, there's a chance other kids can be protected. When victims stay silent, the horrific crimes and damage continues," he said.

The Vincentians own and operate several facilities in the St. Louis area, and once had a seminary in Perryville, Missouri.

One of Cawley's more recent assignment, according to an October 2001 Vincentian newsletter, was to a provincial house of Daughters of Charity nuns in Evansville Indiana. http://209.15.160.166/newsletter/archive/0109/appointments.html

He also worked recently at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Shawnee Mission, Kansas.

Cawley is believed to be living at the Vincentian Mission Center, 2100 N. Noland Road in Independence (816 254 3700). He was ordained in 1957.

Kansas SNAP leader Janet Patterson has been in close contact with Cawley's victim. She can be reached at 620-456-2330 (home); 316-772-6537 (cell).

"Exposing criminal actions, no matter where they occur, is crucial in seeking truth, justice, and accountability," Patterson said. "It is not the abused,but the abuser, who should be suffering from shame, blame, and guilt."

CONTACT:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Coordinator 314 862 7688
Attorneys Ken Chackes 314 369 3902 cell or Susan Carlson (attorneys) 314 520 7732 cell