KBI has received 205 reports, opened 120 cases in investigation into priest sex abuse
Nearly two years after launching an investigation into clergy sexual abuse in the state’s Catholic dioceses, Kansas’ top law enforcement agency has now received more than 200 reports.
“As of Aug. 7, we have had 205 reports of abuse and have opened 120 cases,” said Melissa Underwood, spokeswoman for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, in an email responding to an inquiry on the status of the probe.
The KBI announced early last year that Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt had requested the investigation in November 2018. The agency said it convened a task force of six agents to investigate abuse reports received from the public and complete a review of church documents.
The investigation originally began looking into reports of clergy sexual abuse in the state’s four Roman Catholic dioceses — Wichita, Salina, Dodge City and Kansas City, Kansas. It then expanded to include the Society of St. Pius X, a breakaway Catholic group known for its traditional Latin Mass with a large branch in St. Marys in northeast Kansas.
In its previous update, the KBI said that as of Feb. 1, it had received 186 reports of abuse and opened 112 cases.
At least some of the new cases likely involve the Society of St. Pius X. Several people told The Star in April and May that they had contacted the KBI to report sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior by SSPX priests and employees as well as a cover-up by the leaders. Others said agents working on the investigation had contacted them in recent months.
In a statement sent to The Star earlier this year, the Society of St. Pius X acknowledged that some priests may have committed misdeeds but denied that it covered up any sexual abuse. It also has said it was cooperating with the KBI.
Last September, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced the results of a similar investigation into priest sex abuse in his state.
Schmitt released a 329-page report detailing his office’s year-long investigation that included interviews with victims and a review of personnel records dating back to 1945 of more than 2,000 priests and 300 deacons, seminarians and religious women.
The investigation found 163 clergy members who had been accused of sexual abuse or misconduct of minors. Of those, Schmitt referred 12 former clergy members for possible criminal prosecution.
Underwood, who said in May that the KBI investigation would be “lengthy,” would not say how much longer it could take.
“We expect to continue investigating,” she said.
This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 10:17 AM.
