St Louis Priest Charged in 1978 Case

From the Post Dispatch:

More than three years after he was publicly identified by the St. Louis Archdiocese as an admitted child molester, a Catholic priest is charged with sodomy for allegedly abusing a 14-year-old boy in 1978.

From KTVI TV:

A suspended St. Louis priest is now officially charged with sexually abusing a teenage boy nearly thirty years ago. Childhood abuse victims say that's possible because of recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling.

Over three years ago, a man reported to the St. Louis Archdiocese that Father Robert Johnston had sexually abused him as a teen during a trip to Lake Wauwanoka in Jefferson County. Johnston admitted the abuse and was quickly removed from public ministry, but criminal prosecution was unlikely until the Missouri Supreme Court broadened victims' access to the courts in 2004.

Now Johnston faces criminal charges of sodomy in Jefferson County . His bond was set at $50,000 cash. Wednesday, the court opened another door, allowing juries to extend the time childhood victims have to file civil damage suits against their alleged abusers. That could mean more lawsuits against clergy and religious organizations.

Although a church lawyer doesn't expect many of the cases will reach the trial stage, victim support groups see the ruling as a step forward. The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is urging childhood abuse victims who have never spoken out to find the courage to come forward now. Arrangements are being made for Father Johnston to turn himself in. He is living at Regina Cleri, a retirement home for priests in Webster Groves.

A video clip was aired Tuesday night about this matter. Johnston was a priest at six parishes in in his 40 years in the archdiocese . The criminal charge can carry a "life" penalty.