Jerome Keaty, Mark Fleming accused of abusing minors
The Archdiocese of St. Louis has added the names of two priests to its list of clergy who have had substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.
Jerome Keaty was added to the list of clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Keaty, who was ordained in 1962, died in 1999.
Mark Fleming, a priest of the Diocese of Manchester, N.H., was added to the list of clergy from other dioceses who served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Fleming, who was ordained in 1980, briefly served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and has since been laicized.
The updated list of clergy with substantiated claims of abuse is available online at archstl.org/promise. Archbishop Robert J. Carlson sent a letter to parishes in the archdiocese where Keaty and Fleming had served in ministry, and an announcement was made in those parish bulletins.
Archbishop Carlson wrote in his letter that this is a painful time for Catholics to see the names of clergy “accused of behavior we can barely allow ourselves to imagine. This is also an important time for our Church as we walk with victims in their pain, and forge a path forward in trying to establish trust once again in those who serve you in the Catholic faith.”
The archbishop also acknowledged Catholics who have received the sacraments from these clergy members, including marriages, baptisms, confessions or Communion. “As central celebrations of our Christian mystery, God reassures us that those very sacraments — not the officiants themselves — remain true vehicles of grace through Christ,” he wrote. “I urge you to please persevere in accepting and living out that truth.”
The archdiocese’s list is accurate to the best of officials’ knowledge; however, the archdiocese will add names of any additional clergy who are found to have substantiated claims of sexual abuse of minors against them, if additional information about an accusation is discovered or if additional allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are found to be substantiated. Any updates will be made online the archdiocese’s Promise to Protect website: archstl.org/promise. The website also includes resources to support survivors of abuse, and information on the steps taken to strengthen and enhance Church procedures to ensure that children are protected.
Anyone who suspects sexual abuse of minors by any Church personnel is encouraged to contact law enforcement, or the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at (800) 392-3738. Additionally, anyone who has knowledge of sexual abuse of minors or misconduct by a member of the clergy, an employee or volunteer of the Archdiocese of St. Louis is urged to call the archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection at (314) 792-7704.
