When it comes to posturing, the Jesuits are in a class by themselves

A suggestion: How about St. Louis University being renamed "Teflon University"?

Why? Because the school's large and well-funded public relations staff seems to be able to keep the clergy sex abuse and cover up cases there covered up.

These well-funded public relations staffers apparently just disclosed that two more credibly accused abusive clerics were at SLU. The notice was issued:

• late on the Friday afternoon of Super Bowl weekend (when it was very likely to get overlooked or ignored) and

• to maybe as few as ONE media outlet (only one, KMOX, covered it), and

• refused to indicate whether the men abused kids or adults. (So much for the often-repeated pledge to be 'open and transparent' about abuse).

  (These just 'outed' abusers are Fr. Daniel Campbell and Fr. David V. Meconi. Campbell, now deceased, was a faculty member in the late 1950s. Meconi was, until as recently as 2021, the director of the university’s Catholic Studies center. His alleged abuse happened between 2015-2016.)

  While Jesuit officials are good at keeping abuse, misconduct, crimes and cover ups quiet, they trumpet with great vigor those activities which net them positive coverage (and, no doubt, more contributions).--Some months ago, the Jesuits PR machine managed to get this glowing headline in the New York Times: "Catholic Order Pledges $100 Million to Atone for Slave Labor and Sales" with this sub-head: "."

  
  One had to read down paragraphs to learn that the Jesuits "deposited $15 million into a trust" and "hired a national fund-raising firm with a goal of raising the rest within the next three to five years." In other words, the Jesuits have actually quietly given pennies while publicly pledging to giving dollars.

  When their fund-raising falls short, not "if" but "when," I predict there'll be little news coverage. In the one or two stories that might appear, I predict Jesuit honchos will blame the fund-raising company they hired for the shortfall. (It should be noted that, as the Times reports, "the pledge falls short of the $1 billion that descendant leaders had called on the Jesuits to raise.)
  

  Over the past year, Jesuits have held widely-publicized symposia at a few of their colleges (Fordham and Gonzaga, in particular).
  
  Like many Catholic officials, the Jesuits talk a good game. (In the National Catholic Reporter, however one symposia participant wrote "It struck me as telling that very few members of the local Gonzaga Jesuit community came in person to the public lectures on the subject of clergy abuse.")
  
  But back to St. Louis University.

  Over the years, maybe decades, Jesuits have quietly shuffled roughly two dozen predator priests in and out of the university with nearly zero disclosure and nearly zero media attention. But it's been hard to draw attention to this.

  We can't even get the student newspaper to pay attention.

  So, to help with the protection of the vulnerable and the healing of the wounded (plus, in fact, the benefit of the church and the university themselves), some of the proven, admitted and/or credibly accused child molesting clerics who are or were working or living at St. Louis University are listed below.

  Each of them has been publicly accused, sued, criminally charged, convicted and/or deemed 'credibly accused' of abuse by Catholic officials somewhere in the US. Learn more about them at BishopAccountability.org

  Years ago, thanks to the St. Louis American newspaper, we did succeed in getting one article that lists at least a few of the SLU predators.

  At least it was a nice, sunny day on Monday, when a group of SNAP members and supporters leafleted at SLU. The students seemed very receptive. Thanks to Joan, Andrea, Dan, Lena and Cynthia who joined me in handing out more than 300 fliers to SLU students and passers-by. 

  Thanks as well to KMOX for being the first and thus far only media to report on the accusations against Fr. Campbell and Fr. Meconi.

  Finally, here's the list. Please spread the word about these guys.

  Publicly accused abusive SLU priests: Fr. Walter P. Buetzler*, Fr. David C Bayne, Fr. Franklyn W. Becker, Fr. Edward F. Beutner, Fr. Floyd A. Brey, Fr. Vincent W. Bryce, Fr. John J. “Jack” Campbell, Fr. James A. Condon, Fr. Juan Carlos Duran, Fr. Paul A. Frey, Fr. Chester E. Gaiter, Fr. James F. Gates, Fr. John Harrington, Fr. Gerhardt B. Lehkmuhl, Fr. Jerold W. Lindner, Fr. Eugene Maio, Fr. Charles H. Miller, Fr. John N. Morfin, Fr. James Glenn Murray, Fr. Thomas J. Naughton, Fr. James V. O’Connor, Fr. George M. Pieper, Fr. John Slowey, Br. Richard H. Witzofsky,  seminarian Francis J. Kegel and former SLU president Daniel O’Connell (who was sued by two women who say he assaulted them when they were young, vulnerable students).
  

  NOTE: Last year, SNAP warned the SLU community about a current SLU student who is a credibly accused abusive seminarian. He is Wojciech (Wotjek) Sobczuk. Two Catholic schools have reportedly kicked him out because of sexual misconduct allegations. Contact us for more information.
  
  *Outed here as a predator who spent time at SLU, Fr. Buetzler's abuse was detailed in a Colorado attorney general report.