A lawsuit brought by 25 former attendees of Catholic churches, schools and activities organized by the Archdiocese of St. Louis accuses leadership of knowing about the rampant sexual abuse of minors and not taking steps to prevent it.
The plaintiffs, who range in age from 21 to 83, outlined the repeated sexual abuse they faced as children by Catholic priests, nuns and brothers all associated with the archdiocese, according to the lawsuit filed July 24 in St. Louis Circuit Court. The Archdiocese of St. Louis and the archbishop did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit were identified by initials to conceal their identities.
Some of these children viewed priests as “father figures,” the lawsuit said.
Plaintiff D.M used the Catholic Church as an “escape” from his abusive father. D.M. met Father William Vatterott while serving as an altar boy in St. Louis City, according to court documents.
The priest would offer the child, who was between 11 and 14 at the time, “emotional support and comfort and (provide) food and clothing,” court documents said.
Simultaneously, Vatterott was sexually abusing the young boy between 2008 and 2011 and asking him for pornographic photos, the lawsuit said.
Continue reading at the Kansas City Star