Old Allegations Mean Priest Won't Be Coming To Saint Gabriel's

ST. LOUIS, MO — Rev. Xiu Hui "Joseph" Jiang will not be headed to St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, the Post-Dispatch reports. The Archdiocese of St. Louis rescinded his assignment as associate pastor there Wednesday over allegations of statutory sodomy and child endangerment.

The years-old charges were dropped and a jury found in favor of Jiang in a civil case — an anti-abuse group even offered the priest a formal apology — but the parish includes a K-8 school and parents raised concerns with church leaders.

"Since the announcement of the assignment of Father Joseph Jiang to your parish as associate pastor, I have heard from many of you about your concerns. I have considered and prayed over the concerns that have been raised," Archbishop Robert J. Carlson wrote in a letter to parishioners. "While there is no reason Fr. Jiang could not or should not be assigned to a parish with a school, at the same time, I realize that very few priests have been exonerated in the courts as has Fr. Jiang. Unfortunately, the level of your concern is a sign of the healing which still needs to take place in the Church when dealing with historical abuse."

The Archbishop said he would meet with school and parish leadership to further discuss their concerns, adding that the church should be a place of spiritual refuge and physical safety.

Jiang's current assignment is at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, where he is expected to remain.

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