ST. LOUIS — Twenty-five plaintiffs filed suit Wednesday against the Archdiocese of St. Louis, alleging they were sexually abused as minors by Catholic nuns and priests. The lawsuit says church officials failed to protect them and covered up the sexual abuse for decades.

The suit identifies many of the accused by name, but states one defendant only as John Doe. Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski is named because at least one of the accused priests was placed in a parish under his watch.

Several priests named in the suit had prior convictions of either sexual abuse, child pornography, or were the subject of civil suits citing sexual abuse. The suit also describes how the Archdiocese responded to each defendant’s case, alleging that officials knowingly covered up the information. 

The suit also alleges that the Archdiocese transferred employees who committed abuse to different locations within the Catholic Church or sent them away for treatment before they returned to “unsupervised access to children.”

Stories of the alleged sexual abuse that the plaintiffs endured as children are detailed in the suit. 

“Defendants have covered up and concealed their own intentional misconduct in enabling this sexual abuse by exploiting the trusting and confidential relationship the Defendants encouraged and established with Plaintiffs while they were impressionable young children,” the lawsuit states. 

“This shameless cover-up spanned decades and allowed various clergy and other employees to access and sexually abuse numerous children, including Plaintiffs, and hindered Plaintiffs from discovering their causes of action against the Defendants for their negligent and intentional conduct.” 

The plaintiffs demand a jury trial and are seeking compensatory, statutory, punitive and other damages on the multiple counts alleged in the suit, such as:

  • Childhood sexual abuse

  • Intentional failure to supervise clergy

  • Negligent failure to supervise children and report sexual abuse

  • Negligence Per Se and breach of special relationship/duty

  • Fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud

  • Fraudulent misrepresentation 

  • Constructive fraud

  • Intentional infliction of emotional distress

  • Intentional infliction of emotional distress against alleged John Doe I

  • Sexual Abuse, against alleged John Doe I

  • Aiding and abetting

The Archdiocese did not immediately respond to a request for comment.