Center for troubled clergy draws fear

PACIFIC, Mo. -- A religious order's plan for a center for troubled priests to be located near this community outside of St. Louis is raising concern from residents of the area.

Catholic priests with Servants of the Paraclete, an order that looks after other religious clergy, want to develop a facility for priests who suffer from problems including alcoholism, depression and pedophilia, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday.

Residents expressed concerns for children's safety and the possibility of falling property values if the center becomes a reality.

The proposed facility would combine the programs of the order's Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, which treats some priests unlikely to return to active parish work, and the St. Michael's Community in Sunset Hills, which mainly helps those who could possibly resume their duties.

The Jefferson County planning and zoning commission will consider the proposal on Thursday, and some residents are preparing to make their worries known.

The Rev. Peter Lechner of Sunset Hills, servant general of the Paracletes, said he understands residents' fears. He said priests who have committed pedophilia would probably be just a small number of the priests treated. He said they would not be permitted to leave the grounds without an escort.

Lechner says the center would house about 24 priests for treatment and supervision.

"These are primarily older men," Lechner says. "Most are in their 70s. Yes, some of them did something some years ago. Their reason for being with us is they're trying to lead a good priestly life. We provide accompaniment, and we have very clear boundaries where priests can and can't go."