A Catholic Church abuse scandal in Missouri has accused a retired priest of sexually abusing a child while he was working as a transitional deacon for a church in the 1970s.

Church officials for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau recently announced a Catholic Church abuse scandal involving Rev. Fred Lutz, a former priest. In early October, allegations were reported in a diocese letter sent to churches where Lutz formerly served, including St. Mary’s Cathedral in Gape Girardeau and Immaculate Conception in Jackson.

According to an article by Southeast Missourian, Lutz served as a transitional deacon at St. Mary’s Cathedral from 1972 to 1973, and was ordained in 1973. He served as a pastor at several other locations over the course of his career including Immaculate Conception Parish in Jackson in 1987, Guardian Angel Parish in Oran in 1994, St. Joseph Parish in Advance, and St. Anthony Parish in Glennon in 1996. More recently, in 2003, he served as a pastor at St. Benedict Parish in Doniphan.

Although the allegations against Lutz were only recently reported, the diocese was allegedly aware of the claims when they were reported in 2006. Leslie Anne Eidson, the communications director for the diocese, told Southeast Missourian that the allegations should have been made public when they were first reported. Failing to notify the public was reportedly a violation of church policy.

The Catholic Church abuse scandal was uncovered by the diocese as a part of an internal inquiry into personnel records dating back over five decades. This investigation was reportedly prompted by the widespread Catholic Church abuse scandal in Pennsylvania.

Officials for the Missouri diocese reportedly found the allegations against Lutz to be credible and reported it to relevant official in 2006, including the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Missouri child abuse and neglect hotline.

However, Morely Swingle, who was then prosecutor, told Southeast Missourian he does not remember such allegations but is confident that his office would have investigated the issue.

Even if the allegations had been investigated, the three-year statute of limitations which was in place since 1987 likely would have prevented prosecution. Today, statutes of limitations do not apply to sexual offences involving a minor, but a Missouri appeals court ruled that a sexual offender cannot be tried if the statute of limitations which applied at the time has expired.

The investigation into a potential Catholic Church abuse scandal also revealed allegations against two other individuals: Rev. John Brath and Monsignor John Rynish. Both men are deceased but faced sexual assault allegations in connection with their service in churches outside of Cape Girardeau County and its immediately surrounding counties.

More allegations may be made public as a part of the Catholic Church abuse scandal investigation which was initiated by the diocese in August. Personnel records will be reviewed as far back as 1956.

Eidson reports that the diocese is also cooperating with a statewide Catholic Church abuse scandal investigation led by Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley.