The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and its Bishop Edward Rice face a federal lawsuit accusing them of enabling and concealing the sexual abuse of minors by employees over decades. The lawsuit, filed on September 12 in U.S. District Court’s Western District of Missouri, demands $75 million for the 11 victims who allege they experienced sexual abuse in the 1980s and 1990s. The lawsuit names seven different priests and clergy, only one of whom appears on the diocese’s list of clergy with allegations of abuse, which was last updated in September 2023.
The complaint states, “The Diocese and Bishop did not act in any manner to protect the young children of its parishes, churches, community, and other organizations within its area of operation. The Bishop and Diocese engaged in several decades of intentional misconduct in turning a blind eye to the sexual abuse of its priests and other employees.”
In a statement issued on September 16, the diocese said it takes these allegations seriously and will make no further comment to respect the process of the courts. The diocese has a Safe Environment Policy and Procedures aimed at protecting children and reconciling with those harmed by the church.
The statement read, “As a precaution, all clergy, employees, and volunteers, who are accused of abuse or misconduct involving minors or vulnerable adults, may be placed on temporary administrative leave by the Diocese.
Missouri diocese faces abuse allegations
The presumption of innocence should be accorded to those who are presently accused.”
The lawsuit also accuses the diocese and bishop of fraud by publicly representing clergy as “men of excellent character” while knowing of the sexual abuse occurring.
It claims that the diocese had a practice of moving perpetrating priests around to avoid penalties and sending priests who had abused children to treatment facilities before returning them to ministry. Additionally, the lawsuit claims the diocese and bishop failed or refused to take reports by parishioners and employees of the abusers even after a website was created to encourage allegations of sexual abuse to be brought forth. Rice has served as the diocese’s bishop since 2016.
The lawsuit recounts alleged abuse of children as young as 5 years old at churches in Springfield, Kimberling City, Poplar Bluff, Malden, Neosho, Advance, Joplin, and Carthage. According to court documents, plaintiffs’ accounts of abuse include clergy members kissing, fondling, sodomizing, raping, and forcing children to have sex with each other. In some instances, children allegedly were given wine before being abused.
All 11 plaintiffs, three of whom are female, are represented by attorney Rebecca Randles of Kansas City, who has represented numerous other victims of childhood abuse.
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- NewsLeader.”Catholic Diocese of Springfield accused in federal lawsuit of concealing child sex abuse”.