Did it happen?

Actually.

That's the — completely reasonable — first question people have for survivors of the Catholic sex abuse crisis.

In sum, while the Archdiocese of St. Louis has PUBLICLY, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, told the people of St. Louis that I'm lying...

Jones also said the information O’Leary shared initially changed multiple times...

...they've PRIVATELY acknowledged that It Happened.

February 5, 2018

...Please know that you and all victims of abuse are in my prayers...

Sandra Price
Archdiocese of St. Louis

Then there's the fact that my bishop, Archbishop Robert Carlson, met with me, something that only happens if you're a survivor.

Acknowledged Survivor

The Archdiocese of St. Louis has admitted privately to me that they believe me.

That It Happened.

February 5, 2018

Hi Chris,

I wanted to respond to you on behalf of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis.

You chose to litigate your claims of sexual abuse by Rev. Leroy Valentine. Your claims were acknowledged by Deacon Phil Hengen, the Archdiocese of Saint Louis and the court system. This matter has been fully settled through litigation and is final. Because your claim has been fully settled and is final the Archdiocese of Saint Louis will not be responding to any further inquiries regarding these claims. Please know that you and all victims of abuse are in my prayers and I do hope that you are able to find peace in the future. I wish you the best.

Sandra Price
Archdiocese of St. Louis

Tacitly

Although the Archdiocese of St. Louis won't publicly acknowledge that I'm a survivor, they haven't — well, not to my knowledge — disputed that I met with Archbishop Robert Carlson on March 26, 2019 to discuss my experiences, a meeting ArchStL only grants if they believe you were in fact abused.

The Problem

The problem is that what the Archdiocese of St. Louis has told the PEOPLE of St. Louis is quite a bit different.

That's consequential because it affects how the Catholics of St. Louis treat me.

The problem is, inn the piece by Aisha Sultan entitled Priest Sex Abuse Survivor Says Trauma Lingers in which I went public, Gabe Jones of the Archdiocese of St. Louis said the following...

…when asked to comment on O’Leary’s account, “The archdiocese’s record of Mr. O’Leary’s allegations are significantly different; however, due to a court order as well as our own ethical obligation, we are not at liberty to discuss Mr. O’Leary’s case.” Jones also said the information O’Leary shared initially changed multiple times by the time he broke off communication with the Office of Child and Youth Protection.

So which is it?

Were my claims acknowledged and I'm a victim of abuse as Sandra Price of ArchStL says or am I a liar whose story changed multiple times as Gabe Jones of ArchStL said?