Missouri diocese abuse inquiry names 33 priests, brothers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Thirty-three priests or religious brothers in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo., have been “credibly accused” and/or removed from the ministry over sexual abuse of minors, the bishop of the central Missouri diocese said Thursday.

Bishop W. Shawn McKnight released a complete list of the names that followed an internal inves- tigation begun in February. The list includes 25 priests from the diocese, three priests from other areas who previously served in the Jefferson City diocese, and five members of a religious order.

Fourteen of the 33 men named are dead. Many of them are elderly. The most recent case of abuse was in 1997, and McKnight said only one man on the list was criminally convicted.