Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Crest, Wikipedia, Edited
CV NEWS FEED // Eleven plaintiffs sued the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on September 12 over sexual abuse claims that occurred between the 1980s-1990s.
Springfield News Leader reports that the federal lawsuit names seven clergy members and sues current Bishop Edward Rice for covering up sexual abuse. Bishop Rice has served as Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau since 2016.
One of the seven clergy members named in the lawsuit is listed on diocesan website’s page of priests who have abuse allegations. The webpage was updated in September 2023.
Eight of the plaintiffs are male, and all of the plaintiffs state that they were abused as minors.
In a September 16 statement, the Diocese said that it will not make further comments about the lawsuit in order to respect court proceedings.
“The Diocese takes these allegations seriously,” the statement reads.
The Diocese noted that it will “continue to attend to those who have been harmed by abuse,” in accord with the diocesan safe environment policies and the US Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth People.
The Diocese may place priests or clergy members accused of abuse on temporary administrative leave, but it encouraged the faithful to grant the accused “the presumption of innocence.”
“The Diocese seeks truth and justice. It holds accountable those who have abused children and the vulnerable,” the statement said.
