ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Archdiocese volunteered to open its records for an investigation into the church's handling of sexual abuse accusations against clergy members.
In a press release, Archbishop Robert Carlson said he invites the attorney general to review their files to make an independent determination on their processes when it comes to abuse allegations.
The decision comes after a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania found more than 300 "predator priests" in six Roman Catholic dioceses across Pennsylvania were protected by church leaders more interested in safeguarding the church and the abusers than tending to their victims.
In the days since the announcement, abuse advocates in St. Louis have called for more transparency and an investigation into the church's protocol for protecting children.
In the press release, Carlson also said the safety of children has been one of their highest priorities during his time with the church. He also said they hired a former member of the FBI to look into their processes, and she found them to be "appropriate and robust."
Attorney General Josh Hawley said the jurisdiction normally lies with the local prosecutor, but since the church opened files to him, he will take up the investigation.
You can read the archdiocese's press release here and the attorney general's response here.
