Springfield-Cape Girardeau Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorneys
Many families are drawn to the Roman Catholic Church for the spiritual guidance of the Vatican and Pope Francis. The religious community provides instructions on their faith through services and actions. For millennia, the Church has set high standards that must be followed by the faithful based on the Bible’s words that have remained fundamentally unchanged. Sadly, many religious leaders abuse their authority of trust between themselves and parishioners by sexually assaulting minors and vulnerable adults.
For more than seventy years, Church officials and religious orders have hidden evidence of credible accusations made against priests and other religious leaders who sexually assaulted innocent victims. Some of these leaders have included cardinals, bishops, religious order priests, deacons, brothers, nuns, and laypersons.
Most sexual molesters use some sort of authority over others to gain power. As a priest, brother, or deacon in the religious community, the clergy member can seek out innocent parishioners as their prey. Typically, the priest will sexually abuse their victims in any location that is easily accessible to both of them, including a place of worship, daycare centers, Christian summer camps, Sunday schools, Bible study class, University campus, or a church-related function.
Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Sexual Abuse Lawyers
So far, the United States Roman Catholic Church as paid claimants and plaintiffs more than $3.8 billion in settlements to resolve sexual abuse victim cases. The negotiated agreements have involved religious leaders from nearly every position of hierarchical authority in the Church.
By Church doctrine, the religious leaders are required to provide every parishioner with an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. Sadly, many clergy members violate their authority and victimize innocent souls leaving them in shame and fear.
If you are a sexual abuse survivor and were harmed by a priest or other religious leader, contact a clergy abuse lawyer with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC today. Let us discuss your case in a confidential standing.
Our legal team understands the pain you feel and the unique dynamics you face when pushing back against the Roman Catholic Church. Let us stand by your side and provide empathetic, compassionate support. We will take legal action against Church officials that hid the evidence and the predator who caused your harm.
Why Sexual Assault Survivors Remain Silent
Many parishioners in the Roman Catholic Church will develop a trusting, close relationship with the parish priest or other church leader. This connection helps to strengthen their spiritual guidance to God.
Unfortunately, when the predatory priest uses their authority to molest his prey, the victim often feels intimidated. They fear that if they spoke out and told others what happened, the abuser could assault them again. Many sexual assault survivors are victims of child sex abuse, rape, sodomy, child pornography, or oral sex engaged by Church leaders that might be a coach, teacher, religious women, or layperson.
Typically, it takes years or decades for a sexual abuse survivor just to talk to others about what happened or confront their abuser. Their bravery is immeasurable when they stand up to the authority that sexually assaulted them to ensure that the predator and complicit Church officials are held accountable.
Obtaining Church Information Has Been Difficult
For years, sexual molestation advocates have worked to identify and publicize the individual names of clergy members who face allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct. Currently, the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau contained the names of twenty-two religious order priests and brothers facing credible allegations against them. Their accusers have identified them as sexual molesters.
The twenty-two diocesan priests are just a small part of the growing problem of predatory religious leaders throughout Missouri. Currently, the total number of documented clergy sex abusers is more than 190 statewide, including in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Diocese of Jefferson City, and Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Some of these diocesan priests and other clergy members have been found guilty or accused of sexual molestation involving children and young adults.
Prosecutors Receive Sexual Assault Evidence on a Former Springfield-Cape Girardeau Priest
In April 2020, Catholic Church officials from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau announced the recent allegations involving Father Gary Carr. The Church accused him of sexually molesting a minor almost three decades ago.
The sixty-six-year-old former Reverend allegedly assaulted an underage male for years. At the time of the alleged crimes, the victim was ten to thirteen years of age.
Documents reveal that Carr had been assigned to cleric work in Springfield and lived in the area back in 2004. The diocesan priest retired from active ministry in November 2020. However, Church officials, including Bishop Edward Rice, restricted his activity in the Roman Catholic Church and withdrew his priestly faculties in 2008.
Information released by the prosecutor revealed that Reverend Carr had allegedly abused a minor. An investigation conducted by the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Safe Environment Review Board found that there was a “semblance of truth” to the allegations of sexual abuse and publicized the information. Church officials also forwarded the Diocese report to the prosecutor’s office.
During Carr’s career, he was assigned to the Springfield, MO Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish as an associate pastor beginning in December 1982. Currently, Carr resides in St. Louis. A spokesperson for the Diocese stated that in 2008, Church officials placed the Reverend on administrative leave because he violated boundaries. However, the Church failed to take action against the diocesan priest at that time.
In March 2020, the Stoddard County prosecuting attorney’s office filed charges against another religious leader, Frederick Lutz, accused of sexual assault in 2000. Lutz faced potential criminal prosecution with the state Attorney General in Stoddard County on charges of statutory sodomy and sexual molestation.
In September 2019, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt identified a dozen religious leaders facing possible criminal prosecution due to inappropriate sexual activity with minors. Schmitt’s comprehensive investigation of priests, brothers, sisters, and other religious leaders found evidence in the Jefferson City Diocese, Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Kansas City-St. Joseph, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
The Effects of Sexual Molestation Involving Children and Young Adults
Not all the signs and symptoms of sexual assault occurring to minors and young adults are apparent to others. However, the victim’s parents, friends, and family members need to understand the warning signs of child sex abuse that could include:
- Ongoing depression
- Unexplained anger issues
- Unusual sexual behavior
- Unexplained disconnect from family, friends, and classmates
- Unexpected negative changes in their personality
- Difficulty making friends
- Engaging in criminal activity and non-social behaviors
The child’s place of worship should be a safe environment. The child should be able to seek out help, counseling, and assistance from all religious leaders at Church or school. Unfortunately, clergy child abusers often target minor children, teenagers, and young adults in the congregation at different religious venues, including the Church, the rectory, in the confessional, at school, summer camp, or other Catholic organization-related venue. Many boys and girls are sexually assaulted when working for the congregation as an altar server.
Do you suspect that your loved one was sexually assaulted by a diocesan priest, bishop, cardinal, parish pastor, or another religious leader? If so, taking immediate action could be essential to maintain their health.
An attorney working on your behalf can ensure that your rights are protected when seeking financial compensation paid by the Springfield Cape Girardeau Diocese.
Hiring a Springfield / Cape Girardeau Diocese Sexual Abuse Lawyer
If you are the victim of rape, molestation, sodomy, or other heinous sexual abuse by a religious leader, contact our law firm today at (888) 424-5757. We can schedule a free case consultation to discuss what happened to you in a private, confidential setting. With our years of experience and comprehensive understanding of Missouri civil tort law, we can ensure a successful resolution to your compensation case.
Our compassionate attorneys understand the delicate nature of what happened to you, and the difficulty you might have been discussing intimate details. Be assured that we will provide a safe environment and diligently listen to your story to ensure you can obtain justice and seek compensation.
Jonathan Rosenfeld accepts all personal injury cases through contingency fee arrangements. This agreement ensures all your services and legal fees are paid only after we have successfully resolved your case through a jury trial award or a negotiated settlement.
We are currently accepting cases where the predatory priest is still in “active ministry,” removed from the priesthood (laicized), on a leave of absence, retired, removed from their religious order, or deceased. Time is of the essence to contact a Missouri sexual abuse attorney. All the necessary paperwork in filing a claim for compensation must be filed in the appropriate county courthouse before the state statute of limitations expires.