By Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis – The former priest of a south St. Louis parish will spend 80 months in federal prison and be under lifelong supervision after his release for possession of child pornography.
James Patrick Grady, who was the pastor at St. Raphael the Archangel in south city, pleaded guilty to the charge in March. He was arrested in July 2009 after traveling to St. Louis County to meet with a 16-year-old girl for sex. The girl was an undercover officer. Grady had answered an Internet ad that was part of an ongoing investigation. Investigators also found child pornography on a computer the parish had purchased for Father Grady's personal use.
In a statement, Archbishop Robert Carlson apologized for the "great harm caused by this form of child abuse," and said he would begin the process of removing Father Grady from the priesthood.