Civil Lawsuit Accuses Kansas City, Kansas, Priest of Abuse

A Missouri man has filed a civil lawsuit accusing a Kansas City, Kansas area Catholic priest of abusing him three decades ago.

The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Wyandotte County court, also names the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. The plaintiff alleges the archdiocese knew of the abuse and did nothing to stop it. The lawsuit doesn’t name the victim and identifies the accused priest with initials.

The lawsuit claims the sexual abuse occurred at a lake house in the 1980s when the alleged victim, who is now in his 40s, was between 15 and 17 years old.

The archdiocese said Friday in a statement that when it was told about allegations against the priest in 2012, the archdiocese investigated, notified law enforcement and removed the priest from ministry.