Lawsuit filed against priest for alleged sex abuse

05:07 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Marc Cox, News 4

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St. Louis (KMOV) -- A long-time St. Louis priest, already suspended for sex abuse allegations, is now facing a lawsuit.

KMOV

The accusation stretches back thirty years, however some fear the priest may still pose a threat.

“We are here today because Father James Pavlik is still a dangerous man,” says David Clohessy, SNAP.

The latest lawsuit to slam the St. Louis Archdiocese comes from Texas. The defendant, known as John Doe, claims Father James Pavlik sexually abused him in 1970 or 1971 when he sought counseling.

“He traveled back to St. Louis to meet Father Pavlik in his living quarters. Because he was a teen and from out of town,” says Clohessy.

Pavlik served as pastor at St. John Nepomuk Church in south city for more than twenty years. He also spent time at St. Mary Magdalene, and Holy Trinity Parish, as well as churches in O'Fallon, Imperial, Sullivan, Herculaneum and Ozora.

A spokesman refused to comment on Pavlik or his whereabouts, due to the pending litigation. But just two years ago, Bishop Joseph Naumann admitted Pavlik lost his job in the church over sex abuse allegations.

Clohessy claims Pavlik is at a church-run center for pedophiles in Jefferson County, but says he still threatens the community.

“He leaves the facility, doesn't have a chaperone or supervisor and in fact goes back to parishes in the city including parishes where he once worked,” says Clohessy.

Pavlik, the archdiocese, and Archbishop Raymond Burke are all named in the lawsuit. It claims all had the duty to protect children served in their churches.

The suit will be heard in the city of St. Louis. The archdiocese says it encourages anyone who thinks they've been abused to come forward to the church, or to civil authorities.