ST. LOUIS — Just one day after a lawsuit was filed against the Archdiocese of St. Louis, members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests asked for transparency from the church.

Victims are not named in the lawsuit, just their initials and a timeline that spells out the alleged sexual abuse. The identities of some priests, nuns, and other church staff are also kept anonymous, while others are identified by only their first names.

“There are at least a dozen accused predators in these lawsuits whose full names are not known. That’s not surprising; some of these crimes happened 30–40 years ago,” said David Clohessy, Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.

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He said the lawsuit shows decades of abuse against children. Clohessy alleges the lawsuit also shows the church covering up the abuse. “At least ten of the accused clerics are still alive, as best we can tell,” said Clohessy.

One of the priests named in the lawsuit spoke out against the allegations, telling parents at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that in a statement provided by his chancellor, it reads in part, “I categorically deny the accusations made by an anonymous person. I have never had sexual contact with another person.”

Clohessy said the victim’s statements in the lawsuit are difficult to read. He alleges abuse as recent as 2015; that’s why he said transparency is crucial. “Countless survivors who are still trapped in silence, secrecy, shame, and self-blame will feel some degree of relief, comfort, solace and validation,” said Clohessy.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis said in a statement, “We’ve still not yet been served, and we need time to review the suit.”

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