Alleged crime involving Leawood priest dates back to 2022, report indicates
The alleged offense that led to the criminal investigation of a Leawood priest announced last week occurred in 2022, a Prairie Village police report indicates.
The incident report involving the Rev. Richard Storey, pastor at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, lists the “date offense started” as March 12, 2022, and the “date offense ended” as Nov. 10, 2022.
It said the case was reported to police on Sept. 4. No other information was available. The document was obtained by The Star through a request under the Kansas Open Records Act.
“Due to the incident still being under investigation, that is the only information we can provide at this time,” police said in an email to The Star.
Kansas law requires only that the first page of a police report, often referred to as the “face sheet,” be made available to the public.
Cure of Ars is located at 9401 Mission Road in Leawood. The rectory, where Storey lives, is across the street and has a Prairie Village address. The Star requested all Prairie Village police incident reports and calls for service involving the address of the Cure of Ars rectory from Jan. 1 through Sept. 19.
The police department provided a single page that contained sparse information. It did not list the location of the alleged offense or the name of the reporting party, nor did it describe the kind of crime police were investigating.
Storey, who had served at Cure of Ars since 2015, resigned last week. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas announced on Wednesday that the resignation came amid a criminal investigation by Prairie Village police.
Storey informed the archdiocese that day of his decision to resign, the archdiocese said in a statement posted on its website, adding that it was “devastated by this situation.”
“The Prairie Village Police Department has informed the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas of a criminal investigation involving Father Storey concerning another adult,” the statement said. “The Archdiocese is fully cooperating with authorities so they can investigate the serious allegations being made against Father Storey.”
The Prairie Village Police Department issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon saying it was conducting “a criminal investigation into an allegation reported to have occurred in Prairie Village.”
“The investigation involves an adult victim and a pastor of Cure of Ars Parish in Leawood,” it said. “ ... This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information related to this allegation or any other is urged to contact the Prairie Village Police Department at 913-642-6868 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.”
Archbishop Shawn McKnight has launched a preliminary canonical investigation into the issue as well, the archdiocese said, and Storey has been temporarily suspended from priestly ministry, including celebrating Mass and performing pastoral duties.
The archdiocese’s statement was posted on the Cure of Ars website Wednesday, and Storey’s contact information was removed from the “Meet the Priests and Religious” section of the site.
The archdiocese’s vicar general, the Rev. John Riley, has been appointed as the parish’s temporary administrator, the archdiocese said. No additional information on the issue will be provided during the investigation, it said.
McKnight celebrated Mass at the Cure of Ars services Saturday and Sunday, and at the end spoke to parishioners about Storey, reading from a statement that was similar to the one the archdiocese issued on Wednesday. McKnight’s statement was handed out to parishioners as they left the weekend services.
“This is a difficult time for your parish and our whole local church,” the archbishop’s statement said. “It is devastating when someone who holds a leadership position in the church faces an accusation of violating that sacred trust. … Please know I am praying for you each and every day, and I humbly ask for your prayers in return.”
Ordained in 2004, Storey was pastor at three parishes in Osage County, Kansas, from 2004 to 2009, according to the archdiocese. He then served at Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park from 2009 to 2015 before going to Cure of Ars.
Prior to becoming a priest, Storey spent several years as a funeral director in Louisburg, Kansas.
His resignation comes as the Cure of Ars Parish is in the midst of a $12 million capital campaign.
McKnight told parishioners to welcome Riley and work with him “to continue the important ministries happening at Cure of Ars.”
“He is ready to support you and ensure your plans will come to fruition.”
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 3:32 PM.
