St Louis Archdiocese Reveals Dozens of Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Kids

(St. Louis, Mo) - The Archdiocese of St. Louis has released the names of 64 clergy members with substantiated abuse allegations against them, following an internal review of diocesan records.

None of the priests are currently serving in the ministry, the archdiocese said. At least 34 of those named on the list are dead, according to published reports. So far, in cross referencing the list with churches in the Parkland, only one priest, Father Robert Babka, is on the list.  

Father Babka served at St Joseph Catholic Church in Farmington twice over the years according to the church's website.  He passed away in 2013. Further cross referencing from the list with other churches in the area are underway by our newsroom.  

The long-awaited announcement comes amid renewed focus on the sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church following a Pennsylvania grand jury report in August, 2018 that documented decades of abuses and cover-ups involving hundreds of priests.

St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson released a prepared statement that reads in part:

“It will be painful for all of us to see the names of clergy accused of behavior we can barely allow ourselves to imagine, but publishing their names is the right thing to do.”