St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson announced Tuesday the suspension of retired priest John J. Ghio because of a recently reported allegation of abuse -- allegedly in the early 1980s.
In a letter to parishes of the Archdiocese, Carlson said:
“Having consulted with the Promoter of Justice, the Vicar for Priests, and the Review Board of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and to ensure the integrity of the process, I have suspended Father Ghio’s priestly faculties until a canonical process is concluded.”
Ghio, already retired from active ministry, now resides in a monitored environment.
All parishes where Ghio served will get church bulletin announcements, the archdiocese said in a release. According to the St. Louis Review, Ghio was at St. Catherine of Alexandria in Riverview Gardens (1980); St. John the Baptist in St. Louis (1982); St. Joseph in Manchester (1983); St. Angela Merici in Florissant (1986); Our Lady of Lourdes in University City (1989); St. Joseph in Farmington (1991); St. John the Baptist in St. Louis (1995); St. Peter in St. Charles (2000); senior Assumption in Mattese (2008); and Annunciation in Webster Groves (2011).
Carlson said he welcomes anyone who wishes to make a report of the sexual abuse of a minor by any priest, deacon or employee of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. They may contact Deacon Phil Hengen, director of Child and Youth Protection for the Archdiocese of St. Louis at 314-792-7704 or phengen@archstl.org.
Reports may also be made to the Missouri Division of Social Services Child Abuse Hotline for allegations involving a person who is currently under the age of 18, or to civil authorities for allegations involving a person who is now an adult, but was abused as a minor.
