Lawsuit blames STL mans suicide on abuse by local priest
The parents of a young man who committed suicide four years ago want to hold the St. Louis Archdiocese accountable, so they're suing.
KTRS' Vicki Pimentel report the lawsuit claims an alleged sexual assault of the then 13 year old boy at a seminary camp led to a deep depression and ultimately his suicide at age 21.
The suit names the Archdiocese, Archbishop Robert Carlson and defrocked priest Bryan Kuchar as defendants. David Clohessy of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests says the Archdiocese has protected priests like Kuchar for too long. "We think it's irresponsible of church officials to recruit, educate, ordain, hire, train, transfer, shield and protect predator priests and then suddenly cut them loose when the legal and public relations heat becomes too hot."
Kuchar has been at the center of investigations before. He was convicted in 2003 of second degree sodomy of a 14 year old boy.
Priest accused of molesting altar boy, kicked out of the church
Diocese of Belleville Bishop Edward Braxton announced the move involving 78-year-old Raymond Kownacki in a statement published in a recent edition of the diocesan newspaper, The Messenger. Braxton says the papal decree calls the defrocking "for the good of the church."
Kownacki is living in a St. Louis-area nursing home and has refused media requests for interviews. He has not been charged criminally.
Kownacki's misdeeds resulted in a $5 million jury award against the diocese to James Wisniewski in 2008. That payout grew to $6.3 million to reflect interest that accrued while the diocese appealed.
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Man steals from nephew's piggy bank to pay for drugs, s…
CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A north St. Louis County man admits that he stole money from his 4-year-old nephew's piggy bank to use for drugs and prostitutes. KSDK reports 31-year-old Baro...
IL Lt. Governor and others fight for Scott Air Force Ba…
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Although the future of Scott Air Force Base in southern Illinois won't be in question for two more years, state and local officials are preparing a plan to ...
Gov. Nixon, legislators clash over Medicaid, driver's l…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Governor Jay Nixon began the year with ambitious priorities to start of his second term but ran into a wall of opposition from the Republican Legislature...

Probe begins after Conn. commuter trains crash
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) - Two commuter trains packed with rush-hour commuters collided in an accident that sent more than 60 people to Connecticut hospitals, severely damaged the tra...

Horses, trainers prepare for 2013 Preakness
BALTIMORE (AP) - The second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown leaves the starting gate this afternoon in Maryland and the trainer for Kentucky Derby winner Orb says he thinks his ...

Gov. Nixon gives mixed review to legislators' efforts
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Gov. Jay Nixon is giving a mixed review to Missouri's 2013 legislative session. The Democratic governor praised lawmakers for boosting funding for ed...
Police investigate death of Cahokia infant
An investigation is underway in the Metro East after a 4-month-old baby was found dead in his home. Cahokia police say it appears the child died from suffocation. Officers say the...

Toddler left behind by daycare workers at St. Charles r…
Employees at a St. Charles Chuck E. Cheese are being praised for how they dealt with a child being left behind yesterday. The St. Charles police say a two-year-old boy was left be...