Gary Carr Clergy Abuse
For at least the past 16 years, Elizabeth Mangler has kept a file saved on her computer:
“FatherGaryCarr.doc.”
Mangler, 59, had a feeling that some day a man would come forward and accuse Father Gary Carr of child sexual abuse.
And she wanted people to know that in Monett, they tried to stop him.
“We did follow the best chain of command the Catholic Church has to offer,” Mangler said.
And she’s got the receipts.
This year, four men have come forward and accused Carr, 66, of sexually abusing them when they were kids.
And while all of the abuse allegations involving Carr stem from before his time in Monett, Mangler said she felt like the church was slow to act on the alarming information she and others brought forward nearly 20 years ago.
Despite the concerns of Mangler and others, Carr worked for the Catholic Church for another 15 years after leaving Monett in 2004.
Mangler said she hopes that by speaking out now, the church will take notice and act more decisively next time a priest raises suspicion.