The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau recently announced it was adding three priests to a list of clergy accused of sexually abusing minors. According to the West Plains Daily Quill, one of the names on the list was former West Plains priest Monsignor Stephen Schneider, bringing the total number of accused former West Plains clergy to three.
Schneider is the only one of the former West Plains clergy still living, but according to the diocese, he has been removed from active ministry. He served as the pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Plains from 1977 to 1979. The allegations against him are not dated.
Schneider was reportedly removed from active ministry in February 2006 while serving at a church in Joplin. Diocese officials say they received a report in December 2005 of Schneider’s alleged sexual misconduct with a minor at an unspecified time. According to the Springfield News-Leader, the allegation ultimately led to his removal.
Officials say they reported the allegation to the police in accordance with diocesan policy, and authorities reportedly determined it did not meet criteria for criminal prosecution. No charges were brought against Schneider. His was the first case addressed since policy changes were enacted in 2002 to protect children in Catholic communities throughout the United States, as a result of public outcry in the 1990s regarding widespread abuse allegations against Catholic clergy.
Schneider had served in 10 different parishes from his ordination as a priest in 1972 to the time he was removed in 2006. He began his priesthood as an associate pastor at St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral in Cape Girardeau.
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