Chicago Clergy Abuse Lawyer

Illinois Clergy Accused of Widespread Child Abuse

The state’s attorney general has recently published a report that revealed that over 450 Catholic clergy members in Illinois have sexually abused almost 2,000 children since 1950. As a result, the discussion is now about lifting the statute of limitations to allow survivors to pursue justice. Remember that a Chicago sexual abuse attorney is always here for you. Contact us today.

Defining Clergy Abuse

Clergy abuse refers to any form of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse committed by clergy members, such as:

• Priests
• Ministers
• Rabbis
• Imams
• Other religious leaders

This abuse can take many forms, including:

• Sexual assault
• Molestation
• Harassment
• Exploitation of power dynamics

Clergy abuse is a particularly egregious form of abuse, as it often involves a betrayal of trust by someone who is supposed to be a spiritual leader and a role model. Its victims can suffer from long-term emotional and psychological trauma and may struggle with shame, guilt, and isolation.

In recent years, numerous high-profile cases of clergy abuse have occurred, particularly within the Catholic Church. These cases have highlighted the need for greater accountability and transparency within religious institutions and the importance of supporting abuse survivors and promoting healing and justice.

Illinois AG Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse

The Illinois Attorney General’s report on clergy sexual abuse has been a significant wake-up call for the state, revealing the shocking extent of the problem. The report states that over 450 Catholic clergy members have been involved in sexual abuse cases, affecting almost 2,000 children since 1950. These staggering numbers communicate the need for immediate action to address the issue.

One of the main concerns arising from the report is the statute of limitations, which can limit the time frame for survivors to seek justice. Many are now calling for the statute of limitations to be lifted to allow survivors to pursue legal action against their abusers and the institutions that enabled them.

In response to the report, legal professionals and advocates with decades of experience in working with survivors of sexual abuse are offering their assistance to those affected by this heinous crime. They are committed to supporting, protecting, and guiding survivors toward justice and healing. The advocates in Illinois are providing a safe and confidential space for survivors to share their stories and seek the help they need.

The report is a stark reminder of the ongoing need to address and prevent sexual abuse in all its forms. It is crucial to continue raising awareness and advocating for survivors to ensure they receive the justice and support they deserve. Only through a concerted effort can we hope to eradicate this problem and create a safer and more just society for all.

Clergy Accused of Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago

The following list includes the names of clergy members who were assigned or worked within the Archdiocese of Chicago and have been accused of sexual misconduct. While many of these alleged perpetrators have been the subject of lawsuits, most claims against them have been settled or have not been thoroughly evaluated in a civil or criminal court. Therefore, it is essential to note that the allegations should be considered just allegations and have not been proven or substantiated in a court of law.

It is important to remember that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. In some cases, the statute of limitations has expired, preventing legal action from being taken. The information provided here is an effort to gather information already available to the public. This includes information from sources such as the media, www.bishopaccountability.org, public statements from the Archdiocese, lists and reports released to the public, and other sources attempting to document this information for public use.

Diocese Of Belleville

• Fr. Real (Ray) Borque, O.M.I
• Fr. Michael Charland, O.M.I.
• Fr. James Vincent Fitzgerald, O.M.I.
• Fr. Eugene T. Fitzsimmons, Marianist
• Fr. Chester E. Gaiter, S.J.
• Fr. Paul Kabat, O.M.I.
• Fr. Larry Lorenzoni, S.D.B.
• Fr. Patrick J. McNulty
• Fr. Louis J. Meinhardt
• Fr. Thomas Gregory Meyer, O.M.I.
• Fr. Orville Lawrence (O.L.) (Larry) Munie, O.M.I.
• Fr. Anthony J. Pistone
• Fr. Thomas P. Purcell, Marianist
• Fr. Roger P. Schoenhofen, O.M.I.
• Fr. Francis Skube, O.F.M.
• Fr. Emil Twardochleb, O.M.I.
• Fr. John Wielebski, Order of the Most Holy Trinity

Diocese Of Joliet

• Fr. John Beatty, C.S.V.
• Fr. Robert L. Boley, O.Carm.
• Br. Frank Luke Dalton, C.F.C.
• Fr. Terence Fitzmaurice, O.S.B.
• Fr. Kenneth John Gansmann, O.F.M.
• Fr. Joseph Jablonski, M.S.C.
• Fr. Harold Jochem, O.F.M.
• Fr. Emmet Malone, O.F.M.
• Fr. Kevin Michael McBrien, O.Carm
• Fr. Joseph F. (“Salvator”) Mika, O.F.M.
• Br. John Moriarty, F.S.C.
• Br. Robert Murphy, O.Carm.
• Fr. Samuel Pusateri, OSB
• Fr. James F. Rapp, O.S.F.S.
• Fr. Louis P. Rogge, O.Carm
• Fr. Jeffrey Salwach, O.F.M.
• Fr. Michael Sprouffske, O.Carm
• Br. Karl J. Walczak, C.F.C.
• Fr. William C. Wert, O.Carm.

Diocese Of Peoria

• Fr. Michael (Miguel) Baca, O.F.M.
• Fr. John Beatty, C.S.V.
• Fr. George J. Cody, I.C.
• Fr. Philip D. Kraus, S.J.
• Fr. Severin Lamping, OFM
• Fr. Joachin Lux, OFM
• Br. Christopher J. McCartney, O.S.A.
• Fr. Orville Lawrence (O.L.) (Larry) Munie, O.M.I.
• Fr. Thomas Murphy, C.F.C.
• Fr. Victorian Ostmeyer, OFM
• Fr. Carter Partee, O.F.M.
• Fr. Toussaint Perrron, Order of White Fathers
• Fr. Juvenal Pflazer, O.F.M.
• Fr. Roman Pfalzar
• Fr. Samuel Pusateri, OSB
• Fr. John Turnbull, The Franciscan Friars

Diocese Of Rockford

• Fr. Edward Lawrence Ball, M.S.C.
• Fr. Edwin Banach [Banack], O.F.M.conv.
• Fr. James Campbell, M.S.C.
• Fr. Daniel Cipar, M.S.C.
• Fr. Philip DeRea, M.S.C.
• Fr. Robert J. Erpenbeck, S.J.
• Fr. Theodore Feely, O.F.M.
• Fr. Thomas M. Gannon, S.J.
• Fr. Michael P. Hogan (Michael A. Hogan, Michael Hogan), O.S.A.
• Fr. Walter E. Johnson, M.M.
• Fr. Augustine K. Jones, O.S.B.
• Fr. Peter D. Kohler, M.S.
• Fr. Allan F. Kirk, S.J.
• Fr. Richard Kuhl, M.S.C.
• Fr. Peter Joseph Marron, O.S.A.
• Fr. Joseph F. (“Salvator”) Mika, O.F.M.
• Fr. Thomas J. Naughton, S.J.
• Fr. Leo Petit, M.S.C.
• Fr. John Powell, S.J.
• Fr. James F. Rapp, O.S.F.S.
• Fr. Gerald A. Streeter, S.J.
• Fr. Stanley T. Wisniewski, S.J.

Diocese Of Springfield

• Fr. Michael (Miguel) Baca, O.F.M.
• Fr. John Beatty, C.S.V.
• Fr. John J. (Jack) Campbell, S.J.
• Fr. Michael Charland, O.M.I.
• Fr. Victor Lucien Chateauvert, M.S.F.
• Fr. Kevin J. Downey, O.F.M.
• Fr. Kenneth John Gansmann, O.F.M.
• Fr. Joseph C. Gill, S.J.
• Fr. Harold Jochem, O.F.M.
• Fr. Harvey Lamothe, S.C.J.
• Fr. Thomas S. McShane, S.J.
• Fr. Thomas Gregory Meyer, O.M.I.
• Fr. Francis X. Nawn, S.J.
• Fr. Jeffrey Salwach, O.F.M.
• Fr. Roger P. Schoenhofen, O.M.I.
• Fr. Henry Willenborg, O.F.M.

• Fr. Harry J. Barton, S.J.
• Br. Robert E. Beckstrom, C.F.C.
• Fr. Robert L. Boley, O.Carm.
• Br. Dennis Bonebreak, C.F.C.
• Fr. Robert C. Broome, S.J.
• Br. Robert Noel Brouillette, C.F.C.
• Fr. Vincent W. Bryce, O.P.
• Fr. Ignatius M. Burrill, S.J.
• Fr. Richard Edmund Butler, O.P.
• Fr. Eamonn Byrne, S.S.C.
• Fr. Andrew S. Campbell, O.S.B.
• Fr. Stuart B. Campbell, O.P.
• Fr. J. Michael Cannon, S.J.
• Br. Damien (Patrick) Chong, O.Carm
• Fr. James A. Condon, S.J.
• Br. Edmund Corrigan, C.F.C.
• Br. Edward Courtney, C.F.C.
• Br. Frank Luke Dalton, C.F.C.
• Br. Francis Dominic (A.K.A. Anthony Salomane), O.F.M.
• Fr. Michael E. Dorrier, S.J.
• Fr. Daniel Michael Drinan, C.M.F.
• Br. Thomas G. Duffin, C.F.C.
• Fr. John Duggan, S.J.
• Fr. George B. Dyer (Bernardine George Dyer), O.P.
• Fr. Robert J. Erpenbeck, S.J.
• Fr. William Patrick Farrell, O.P.
• Fr. Patrick (P.J.) Fenton
• Rev. Federico Fernandez Baeza, O.F.M.
• Fr. Mark A. Finan, S.J.
• Fr. Terence Fitzmaurice, O.S.B.
• Br. Thomas Cuthbert Ford
• Fr. Thomas M. Gannon, S.J.
• Fr. Kenneth John Gansmann, O.F.M.
• Fr. Gerald B. Garvey, S.J.
• Br. Gilbert Leroy Hensley, O.P.
• Fr. Mel W. Hermanns, O.F.M.Cap.
• Br. Jerome “Jerry” Heustis, C.F.C.
• Fr. Michael P. Hogan (Michael A. Hogan, Michael Hogan), O.S.A.
• Fr. John M. Huels, O.S.M.
• Fr. Harold Jochem, O.F.M.
• Fr. Robert J. Joda, S.J.
• Fr. Thomas J. Johnston, O.P.
• Fr. Raymond C. Kalter, C.SS.R.
• Br. John Kealey, C.F.C.
• Fr. Allan F. Kirk, S.J.
• Fr. Bernard Knoth, S.J.
• Fr. Robert J. Koch, S.J. (Fr. J. Robert Koch, S.J.)
• Fr. Adalbert (Albert) J. Kowalczyk, C.R.
• Fr. Jerome (Jerry, John) Kucan (Kucon), O.M.F.
• Fr. Richard James Kurtz, S.J.
• Fr. John H. Lane, S.J.
• Br. Ronald Justin Lasik, C.F.C.
• Fr. Richard L. Lause, C.M.
• Fr. Ronan C. Liles, O.P.
• Br. Gregory Madigan, O.S.C.
• Fr. Emmet Malone, O.F.M.

• Fr. Peter Joseph Marron, O.S.A.
• Fr. Kevin Michael McBrien, O.Carm
• Fr. David F. McCarthy, S.J.
• Br. Christopher J. McCartney, O.S.A.
• Fr. Richard J. McGrath, O.S.A.
• Fr. Donald J. McGuire, S.J.
• Fr. Patrick L. McLaughlin, S.J.
• Br. John W. McMuldren, C.S.C.
• Br. John Paul Medvit, C.F.C.
• Br. Paul J. Messick, C.F.C.
• Fr. Maurice F. Meyers, S.J.
• Fr. Joseph F. (“Salvator”) Mika, O.F.M.
• Fr. Vincent Minh, C.SsR.
• Fr. Phillip T. Mooney, S.J.
• Br. Robert Murphy, O.Carm.
• Fr. John D. Murphy, O.S.A.
• Fr. Donald O. Nastold, S.J.
• Br. Walter D. Neary, C.F.C.
• Br. Jack O’Dell, C.S.V.
• Fr. John Baptist Ormechea, C.P.
• Fr. Donald J. O’Shaughnessy, S.J.
• Fr. Frank Paduch (Br. Frank Paduch, O.S.A.)
• Fr. Eusebio Pantoja, Claretian Missionaries
• Fr. Thomas Paramo, C.M.F.
• Fr. Thomas W. Parrot, C.M.
• Fr. Carlos Perlata, S.D.B.
• Fr. Donald Petraitis, M.L.C.
• Fr. Victor Phelan, M.Afr.
• Fr. Gregory H. Poser, O.S.C.
• Fr. John Powell, S.J.
• Fr. Thomas J. Powers, S.J.
• Fr. Robert Reitmeier, O.M.I.
• Fr. M. Lawrence Reuter, S.J.
• Br. Paul (Sean) Reycraft, C.F.C.
• Fr. Louis P. Rogge, O.Carm
• Fr. Andrew M. Ronan, O.S.M.
• Br. Daniel Peter (D.P.) Ryan, C.F.C.
• Fr. Daniel R. Schulte, C.M.
• Fr. Wilton L. Skiffington, S.J.
• Fr. Gerald F. Smola, S.J. (Gerard F. Smola)
• Br. Ruben Soto, O.F.M.
• Fr. Robert E. Spangenberg, C.S.Sp.
• Fr. William J. Spine, S.J.
• Fr. Gerald A. Streeter, S.J.
• Fr. Charles E. Sullivan, S.J.
• Br. Mark Thedens, O.S.A.
• Fr. Roger W. Vaughn, O.S.C.
• Br. Phillip Vorlick, C.F.C.
• Fr. Vincent Waiches (Fr. Vincent Waiches, S.V.D.)
• Br. Karl J. Walczak, C.F.C.
• Br Harold (Harry) A. Walsh, C.Ss.R.
• Fr. Bruce Wellems, C.M.F. (Fr. Bruce Wellams)
• Fr. William C. Wert, O.Carm.
• Fr. Gordon Wilcox, C.S.C.
• Fr. Stanley T. Wisniewski, S.J

Meyers & Flowers is Here for You

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse by a priest or any other Catholic clergy in Illinois, we are here to offer our assistance. Meyers & Flowers comprises legal professionals and advocates committed to helping survivors of priest sexual abuse. We will listen to your story and work tirelessly to address the injustice you have endured. Additionally, we will provide support, protection, and guidance throughout your journey toward justice and healing. Do not hesitate to reach out to us today.