Priest accused of sexual abuse worked in Kirksville - News - Kirksville Daily Express - Kirksville, MO - Kirksville, MO

Clohessy, who now lives in St. Louis, is the national director of SNAP — the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

A priest accused of sexually abusing a Moberly child in the 1960s and 1970s later worked at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Kirksville before abuse allegations led to the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City placing him on leave.

According to an Associated Press report, David Clohessy received a $40,000 check from the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City late last week. The check came with a stipulation that Clohessy would not take further legal action against the diocese.

Clohessy had alleged he was sexually abused by Rev. John Whiteley at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Moberly, Mo. According to bishopaccountability.org, Whiteley worked at St. Pius X in 1969 and 1970.

Clohessy had first sued the diocese in 1991, but that suit was dismissed in 1993 because the statute of limitations had expired. The diocese placed Whiteley on leave in 1991 after sexual abuse allegations surfaced and he has not since served as a priest in the diocese.

Representatives from the diocese met with Clohessy earlier this year after he had contacted the diocese again regarding Whiteley and requested $200,000 for therapy and medical expenses. In a statement, the diocese stated a bishop wrote to Clohessy after the meeting to apologize for the abuse he reported and the diocese later decided to provide “monetary assistance” “to help (Clohessy) with his needs for healing.”

The Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City verified Tuesday that Whiteley was a priest at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Kirksville from 1970 through 1975.

Priest accused of sexual abuse worked in Kirksville - News - Kirksville Daily Express - Kirksville, MO - Kirksville, MO

See also::

Clohessy, JC Diocese settle priest abuse case

MO-- Diocese pays settlement re Naples predator priest

Lawsuit filed against Archdiocese of Miami in sexual assault case | News - Home

I am all for going after scumbag priests, but I am a bit confused on this one,,,

A lawsuit was filed against the Archdiocese of Miami Tuesday by a man who claims he was sexually assaulted by a priest in 1989.

The alleged victim is seeking damages in excess of $5 million.

The complaint alleges that the archdiocese allowed Father Harry Ringenberger, now 82, to continue serving as a priest despite being told that he had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy.

It's unclear whether any criminal charges were ever filed against Ringenberger.

According to the complaint, the Archdiocese "sent Father Ringenberger away for approximately one year, (and) then assigned him to a new parish within the Archdiocese of Miami."

At the time, Ringenberger was working at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Pembroke Pines, and most recently was working at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale.

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The archdiocese released a statement saying in part, "In 1989, upon learning of an accusation of sexual misbehavior by Fr. Ringenberger, the Archdiocese of Miami reported it to the City of Pembroke Pines Police Department who in turn submitted it the Broward County State Attorney's Office. In addition it was reported to the State of Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) which is now State of Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).  At the time the Archdiocese of Miami fully cooperated with all investigating agencies."

"Archbishop Edward McCarthy received a letter from Pembroke Pines Mayor Charles W. Flanagan dated September 29, 1989 which stated, "The City of Pembroke Pines Police Department has been investigating these accusations. Our Police Chief, John Lombardo, has informed me that the police department's investigation has been completed with no evidence of criminal wrongdoings.  Our report was submitted to the Broward County State Attorney's Office.  Chief Lombardo was informed on Wednesday, September 27, 1989 by Barbara Mitchell, an assistant state attorney, that there was insufficient information to constitute any criminal activity on behalf of the subject, Father Harry Ringenberger."

Lawsuit filed against Archdiocese of Miami in sexual assault case | News - Home

Iowa priest chosen to become exorcist | Iowa City Press Citizen | press-citizen.com

Four decades after the profession gained popular prominence in the gory horror flick “The Exorcist,” the Catholic Church is training a new legion of demon-fighting priests.

The Rev. David Fleming of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale is one of 50 U.S. priests recently chosen to train in the rite of exorcism. Fleming was named the official exorcist of the Diocese of Des Moines.

It is the church’s first effort in the United States to coordinate a “comprehensive and systematic formation process for this particular ministry,” Fleming told the Catholic Mirror, Des Moines’ diocesan newspaper. Contacted Saturday, Fleming declined to be interviewed by The Des Moines Register.

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It is a big moment for exorcists. Dioceses in Italy and Spain are also increasing their ranks because of an “unprecedented rise” in demonic possession, Madrid Archbishop Antonio Maria Rouco said last year, after nominating eight priests to undergo training to rid people of their demons.

Church leaders attribute the rise in possessions to people who are dabbling in the occult: practicing witchcraft, visiting a psychic, even playing with a Ouija board.

“Diabolical possessions are on the increase as a result of people subscribing to occultism,” the Rev. Francesco Bamonte, the president of the International Association for Exorcists, told Italian newspaper La Repubblica in December.

Iowa priest chosen to become exorcist | Iowa City Press Citizen | press-citizen.com