By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – An advocacy group for clergy abuse victims wants the state of Missouri to impose strict regulations on church-run facilities for child molesters.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests' call for legislation comes after a Nevada judge ordered a convicted molester to be treated at a Franklin County facility just 20 miles from where his victim now lives.
SNAP director David Clohessy rejects Archbishop Raymond Burke's claim that he has no authority to relocate the priest.
"If St. Louis University used its chapel to perform gay marriages, Archbishop Burke wouldn't shrug his shoulders and say, 'there's nothing I can do,'" Clohessy said. "He could in a heartbeat issue a statement today saying this is wrong."
In a written statement, Archbishop Burke says while he sympathizes with the concerns raised by the victim's family, he respects the court order and is unable to challenge it.