Missouri attorney launches probe of clergy sex abuse in St. Louis

Missouri is launching a probe of potential sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, state Attorney General Josh Hawley said on Thursday, following last week's Pennsylvania report finding widespread clergy sex abuse in the state.

Hawley said his office does not have the power to force institutions to cooperate with criminal investigations but was able to launch the probe after the archdiocese agreed to cooperate.

"They say they want to cooperate fully and I'm confident they will," Hawley told reporters on a conference call.

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