By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis – A St. Louis priest was arrested Thursday over accusations of sexual abuse of a minor.
Father Robert Johnston is no longer an active priest. The St. Louis Archdiocese Removed him from service in 2002 over allegations of abuse more than 20 years earlier.
Two men filed a civil suit against the priest last month. Timothy Dempsey says he's glad he also went to the police.
"I would highly encourage and recommend to anyone to not even consider going to the Archdiocese, to go to the police department either city or county or whatever jurisdiction they're at," Dempsey said.
Dempsey has accused Johnston of molesting him more than twenty years ago when the priest served in the Sacred Heart parish in Valley Park.
In a statement released today, Archbishop Raymond Burke apologized again for any harm caused by clergy members, and encouraged victims to come forward.