Priest formerly assigned to Stoddard County under investigation for physical/sexual misconduct

A priest formerly assigned to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has been accused of physical/sexual misconduct, according to a release from the diocese.

Father Gary Carr, who was assigned to St. Joseph’s Parish in Advance in 1987, has been accused of inappropriate physical/sexual contact with a male, who was 10 to 13 years old at the time of the incident. The male is now an adult.

The accusation was made in December 2019. This report was forwarded to the Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, the jurisdiction where the incident is alleged to have occurred, in February.

Stoddagrd County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver said his office is aware of the situation, and the investigation is ongoing.

Carr was born in 1954 in St. Louis. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in 1982 by then-Bishop Bernard F. Law.

According to the diocese, Carr was placed on administrative leave and restricted in his priestly ministry by then Bishop James V. Johnston in 2008 for boundary violations.

Bishop Johnston considered this imprudent behavior. No allegations were made at that time according to the diocese.

Upon his arrival to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in 2016, Bishop Edward M. Rice reaffirmed the administrative leave. Carr currently resides in St. Louis.

Pastoral appointments for Carr:

1981 — Deacon, St. Mary Parish, Joplin, Missouri

December 1982 — Associate pastor, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Springfield, Missouri

December 1983 — Leave of absence, reasons of health

August 1985 — Part-time associate pastor, St. Mary Parish, Joplin; full-time teacher, Joplin Area Catholic Schools

February 1987— Associate pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Webb City, Missouri; Full-time teacher, St. Peter Middle School, Joplin

August 1987 — Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Advance; St. Anthony Mission Church, Glennon

August 1988 — Leave of absence, reasons of health

August 1989 — Pastor, St. Teresa Parish, Glennonville; St. Ann Parish, Malden

June 1990 — Leave of absence, reasons of health

August 1991 — Priest in residence, Sacred Heart Parish, Poplar Bluff; full-time teacher, Sacred Heart Catholic School, Poplar Bluff

August 1993 — Priest in residence and director of Religious Education (DRE), St. Henry Parish, Charleston; principal, St. Henry Catholic School, Charleston

August 1996 — Pastor, St. Mark Parish, Houston, Missouri; St. John the Baptist Mission Church, Licking, Missouri; St. Vincent de Paul Mission Church, Roby, Missouri

August 1997 — Principal, Holy Name Catholic School, Ketchikan, Alaska

August 1999— Pastor, St. Mary Parish, West Plains, Missouri; Sacred Heart Mission Church, Thayer; principal, of St. Mary Catholic School, West Plains

August 2001 — Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Billings, Missouri; principal, St. Lawrence Catholic School, Monett, Missouri

August 2004 — Leave of absence, reasons of health, resided in Springfield

August 2005 — Health leave, Flagstaff, Arizona; Sacramental Assistance within the Diocese of Phoenix

January 2006 — Health leave, Floyd, New Mexico; Sacramental Assistance within the Archdiocese of Santa Fe (Albuquerque, Clovis)

July 2008 — Pastoral work/supply priest associated with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, St. Francis de Sales Oratory: Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) and sacraments

December 2008— Restricted in ministry, no priestly faculties

November 2019— Retired

Oliver asked anyone who has any information regrading Carr or anyone who may be a victim to call his office at 573-568-4640 ext. 4. Any callers should speak to investigator Tim McCoy.