Missouri Investigating Abuse Allegations Against Catholic Clergy

The Missouri Attorney General is investigating allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in the state. 

Attorney General Josh Hawley made the announcement Thursday, following a press conference by survivors' rights advocates at his St. Louis office the day before.

Hawley's announcement comes a little more than a week after a grand jury in Pennsylvania revealed widespread clergy abuse in that state. 

Archbishop Robert Carlson responded to Hawley's announcement, saying the archdiocese will cooperate with Hawley's investigation. 

The Pennsylvania grand jury report sparked a new wave of conversations about abuse within the Catholic church. Pope Francis released a letter Monday recognizing the Pennsylvania abuse survivors.