List of Accused Priests in Illinois

Abuse in the Roman Catholic Church is an emotional issue that significantly impacts the trustworthiness of the church. In Illinois, credible accusations date back to the 1950s, including child sex abuse and sexual misconduct with adult abuse victims. The list of accused priests in Illinois includes hundreds of Catholic clergy members who allegedly abused almost 2,000 victims.

Injury Lawyer Team is committed to supporting and seeking justice for clergy abuse survivors. Our proven track record of holding credibly accused clergy accountable has helped many clients recover from trauma incurred in the Chicago Archdiocese, Chicago parishes, and other Illinois dioceses.

Read on to learn what legal steps survivors can take, the support available, and how our lawyers help you navigate Illinois laws

Archdiocese of Chicago

• Robert Gerald Aguirre
• Elias Aiyako
• Louis Altendorf
• Lawrence A. Angel
• Hugh James Austin
• Felix Bak
• David Ball
• Oscar Bandini-Beguerisse
• Alexander Sylvester Baranowski
• Charles Patrick Barnes
• Harry J. Barton
• Richard Barry Bartz
• Patricio William Batuyong
• Robert Charles Becker
• Robert E. Beckstrom
• Joseph R. Bennett
• Leonard Adolph Bogdan
• Dennis Bonebreak
• Robert Peter Bowman
• David Francis Braun
• Kenneth M. Brigham
• Daniel Peter Buck
• Edmund F. Burke
• Robert Noel Brouillette
• Eugene Patrick Burns
• Donald J. Butler
• Eamonn Byrne
• John Walter Calicott
• Jose Martin Careaga Hurtado
• Michael T. Carr
• Francis C. Carroll
• Christopher Ciomek
• William J. Cloutier
• John W. Clemens
• George H. Clements
• Alan S. Cobb
• Donald Cecil Collins
• Daniel J. Collins
• Eugene Laurence Condon
• Charles A. Conefrey
• Robert Craig
• Thomas Carroll Crosby
• Edmund Corrigan
• Norman J. Czajka
• Richard Daschbach
• John William Curran
• James Diete
• Dominic Aloysius Diederich
• Walter George DeRoeck
• Francis Emil Dilla
• Richard James Douaire
• Jeremiah C. Duggan
• Anthony Dukich
• James Claver Dunn
• Laurence Eagle
• Mark A. Finan
• Richard Wayne Fassbinder
• William Patrick Farrell
• John J. Fitzgerald
• John D. Fitzgerald
• Joseph L. Fitzharris
• Terence Fitzmaurice
• James E. Flynn
• Philip M. Scherer
• Crescente DeRivera
• James Vincent Flosi
• Rigoberto Gamez-Alfonso
• Robert D. Friese
• Stephen Justin Gardner
• Jesus P. Garza
• Gary Graf
• Carlos G. Griego
• Paul Guzman
• James Craig Hagan
• John Edward Hefferan
• Juan Francisco Hinojosa
• Ed Hennessey
• James Allen Hoder
• Gilbert Leroy Hensley
• Michael P. Hogan
• Michael J. Hogan
• Thomas Barry Horne
• Daniel Mark Holihan
• James Alvarez Houlihan
• Leonard Huske
• Walter Edward Huppenbauer
• Charles B. Irwin
• Thomas Job
• Augustine K. Jones
• John E. Jordan
• John Kealey
• Thomas Francis Kelly
• Robert Louis Kealy
• John James Keehan
• Benen Kent
• Joseph C. Kernan
• William E. Killeen
• John J. Keough
• Allan F. Kirk
• Joseph Patrick Kissane
• George W. Klein
• Leonard Paul Kmak
• J. Robert Koch
• John H. Lane
• Ronald Lange
• Ronald Justin Lasik
• Patrick J. Lee
• Roland J. LeCompte
• James Lewnard
• William R. Leyhane
• Raphael Lino
• William L. Lupo
• Edward J. Maloney
• Norbert J. Maday
• Robert E. Mayer
• David F. McCarthy
• Daniel McCarthy
• Vincent McCaffrey
• Christopher J. McCartney
• Daniel J. McCormack
• Robert Joseph McDonald
• William M. McFarlane
• Donald J. McGuire
• William J. Meagher
• James P. McIlhone
• Peter John McNamara
• Henry Miller
• Gary M. Miller
• Edward James Morgan
• Phillip T. Mooney
• Charles A. Mrowinski
• Donald John Mulsoff
• John Daniel Murphy
• Octavio Munoz Capetillo
• Thomas Ignatius Murphy
• John E Murphy
• Felipe Navarrette Diaz
• Walter D. Neary
• Jacques (Nijssen) Nyssen
• William John O’Brien
• Michael W. O’Connell
• Thomas O’Gorman
• Jack O’Dell
• Donald J. O’Shaughnessy
• Paul L. O’Toole
• Patrick G. O’Leary
• John Baptist Ormechea
• Dana Harold Ostdiek
• Joseph Owens
• Emmanuel Pallikunnen
• P.B. Patitucci
• Eusebio Pantoja Segura
• Thomas Paramo
• Frank Paduch
• Carlos Enrique Peralta
• Francis Joseph Phelan
• Michael L. Pfleger
• Kevin Phan
• Chester Przybylo
• Sleeva Raju Policetti
• Konstanty Przybylski
• James M. Ray
• Paul Reycraft
• M. Lawrence Reuter
• Claire J. Risse
• John F. Rohrich
• John Allen Robinson
• Russell Lawrence Romano
• Andrew M. Ronan
• John J. Rudnik
• Kenneth Charles Ruge
• Daniel Peter Ryan
• David F. Ryan
• Joseph E. Savage
• Edward Schuster
• Daniel R. Schulte
• Wilton L. Skiffington
• Richard L. Skriba
• Raymond Francis Skriba
• Timothy Sklopan
• John P. Smyth
• Marion Joseph Snieg
• Ruben Soto
• William J. Spine
• James R. Steel
• Robert A. Stepek
• Victor E. Stewart
• Ralph S. Strand
• Gerald A. Streeter
• Howard J. Sturm
• Walter Strus
• James Patrick Sullivan
• Lawrence J. Sullivan
• Bruno S. Szczawinski
• Albert Tanghal Rimando
• Thomas J. Swade
• Henry Peter Swider
• Mark E. Thedens
• Richard Gregory Theisen
• Joseph Stephen Thomas
• Michael Trujillo
• Walter Joseph Turlo
• David Tushar
• Anthony Joseph Vader
• Donald Francis Ulatowski
• David H. Verhalen
• Henry Joseph Walsh
• Clovis Vilchez Parra
• Phillip Vorlick
• Karl J. Walczak
• Bruce Wellems
• Jeremiah Walsh
• Michael Howard Weston
• Michael Winkels
• Wayne E. Wigglesworth
• Stanley T. Wisniewski
• Joseph Wilk
• Louis Wojtowicz
• Kazimierz Wronka

Diocese of Belleville

• James R. Calhoun
• Robert Chlopecki
• David G. Crook
• Daniel L. Friedman
• Gerald R. Hechenberger
• Edwin G. Kastner
• Albert E. Kreher
• Raymond F. Kownacki
• Eugene G. Linnemann
• Walter E. MacPherson
• Thomas W. Miller
• Arthur W. Niemeyer
• Anthony Onyango
• Louis P. Peterson
• Jerome B. Ratermann
• William F. Rensing
• E. Alan Ruppert
• Roger Schoenhofen
• Gary Sebescak
• Joseph R. Schwaegel
• Francis Theis
• Robert J. Vonnahmen

Diocese of Joliet

• John F. Barrett
• Richard L. Bennett
• James Boyce
• William Bedard
• Andrew L. Buczyna
• John J. Burke
• James R. Burnett
• Robert Cell
• Thomas A. Corbino
• Daniel (William Kevin) O’Brien
• Arno Dennerlein
• Phillip J. Dedera
• William Dugal, III
• Paul F. Dinan
• Richard Dochstader
• Leonard (Jeffrey) Fairfield
• Lowell E. Fischer
• Alejandro Flores
• Salvatore Formusa
• James M. Frederick
• Michael L. Gibbney
• Lawrence M. Gibbs
• Leonard J. Gilman
• William (Patrick) Gleeson
• Carroll Howlin
• Mark Jendrysik
• Richard E. Jacklin
• Harold Jochem
• Robert (Barry) Kremer
• Frederick A. Lenczycki
• John D. Malzone
• Kevin McBrien
• Richard J. McGrath
• J. Anthony Meis
• Lawrence W. Mullins
• James A. Nowak
• Donald G. O’Connor
• Edward F. Poff
• Donald P. Pock
• Franklin (Felix) Prior
• Anthony J. Ross
• Richard M. Ruffalo
• Francis Lee Ryan
• Jeffrey Salwach
• Gerald J. Simonelli
• Henry Slade
• John C. Slown
• David Stalzer
• Edward A. Stefanich
• James O. Storm
• Charles Van Duren
• William D. Virtue
• Oliver T. Walsh
• Myles Patrick White
• Francis (Lambert) Yore

Diocese of Peoria

• John C. Anderson
• Robert O. Barnett
• Charles Beebe
• Patrick B. Brennan
• Walter A. Breuning
• Edward E. Bush
• Terry Cassidy
• J. George Cody
• Louis Condon
• Robert J. Creager
• Francis Engels
• Norman D. Goodman
• William Harbert
• George H. Hiland
• Robert Thomas Hughes
• William D. Isermann
• J. Eugene Kane
• M. Duane Leclercq
• John Edward Lohan
• Thomas W. Maloney
• Thomas R. Miller
• John M. Onderko
• Victorian Ostmeyer
• Toussaint J. Perron
• Gregory J. Plunkett
• Jerome Pilon
• Samuel D. Pusateri
• John J. Ryan
• Laurence C. Schumacher
• Mary Jane
• Richard Slavish
• Bernard Tomaszewski
• John B. Turnbull
• Michael R. Van Acker

Diocese of Rockford

• Edwin Banach
• Joseph J. Charron
• Mark A. Campobello
• Harlan B. Clapsaddle
• Thomas Considine
• Theodore Feely
• Michael Frazier
• James Gaynor
• Al F. Harte
• John C. Holdren
• Walter E. Johnson
• William I. Joffe
• Peter D. Kohler
• Richard Kuhl
• Christopher LeMay
• Patrick O’Hara
• Leo Petit
• Alfredo Pedraza-Arias
• Jerome Skaja
• Joseph J. M. Tully

Diocese of Springfield

• Alvin L. Campbell
• Joseph D. Cernich
• Eugene E. Costa
• Robert DeGrand
• Garrett Neal Dee
• Michael Owen Driscoll
• Robert Dodd
• Kevin J. Downey
• Robert Eagear
• George Faller
• Ray Franzen
• Joseph Havey
• George Kromenaker
• Peter Mascari
• Richard Niebrugge
• Joseph Cullen O’Brien
• James Patrick O’Hara
• Frank J. O’Hara
• Daniel L. Ryan
• Louis Schlangen
• Aloysius Schwellenbach
• Louis C. Shea
• Francis Tebangura
• Walter M. Weerts
• Frank D. Westhoff
• Stanislaus Yunker

About Clergy Sexual Abuse

Illinois Clergy sexual abuse occurs when a person with a position of authority in the church engages in unethical, inappropriate, and exploitative sexual behavior towards an individual under their spiritual care. This abuse severely erodes the trust a victim has in the church and may lead to depression, anxiety, and emotional and physical trauma.

Victims of abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy must report the abuse and seek legal action. Begin with a free, confidential consultation with a lawyer who has experience dealing with alleged abuse within religious orders. An Illinois attorney will take steps to bring a claim against the abuser, including collecting evidence, representing the victim at trial, and negotiating a settlement.

Legal Support for Survivors in Illinois

With Injury Lawyer Team, survivors of abuse can expect an expert, results-driven attorney to guide them through the Illinois legal process for highly sensitive child sexual abuse cases. Survivors can file a civil lawsuit that may result in substantial monetary compensation for damages. Our firm provides free consultation, evidence collection, negotiation and settlement, and trial representation.

Laws and Regulations in Illinois

As of 2014, Illinois does not have a statute of limitations for civil child sex abuse cases. However, this amendment does not apply retroactively so cases before 2014 may still be subject to time limits.

Regardless of the timeline, there is no statute of limitations for criminal cases of felony or misdemeanor sexual offenses against a minor. Qualified, experienced lawyers will guide you through the laws to file suit for a credible allegation.

Filing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Illinois

Your decision to file a civil suit against clergy members can be stressful and bring up traumatic memories. Fortunately, working with a compassionate and experienced clergy abuse lawyer will help you navigate the process. When you are ready to seek justice against the clergy member or diocese, there are several steps involved.

1. Contact an experienced Illinois clergy abuse attorney at Injury Lawyer Team for a free consultation.
2. Gather evidence to support your case. This may include your medical records, photos, recordings of conversations, emails, text messages, and more.
3. Work through negotiation and settlement with your experienced lawyer who understands the sensitive nature of cases of sex abuse.
4. If the liable party is unwilling to negotiate and settle the case reasonably, your lawyer will prepare your case for court and support you through the process.

Support Resources for Survivors in Illinois

If you’re a survivor of sexual assault from a clergy member or other church employees, finding both legal and emotional support is important to help your healing process. Illinois has extensive services available, including:

• Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, which operates rape crisis centers around Illinois, each with a 24-hour hotline;
• Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois, where children and their families are referred after an allegation of abuse;
• Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a national resource for victims of abusive priests and other clergy members. They have locations in Chicago and Joliet, and the site provides resources for victims of child sexual abuse, child pornography, child abuse, family services, and more.

Notable Cases and Outcomes in Illinois

There are over 1,500 Illinois priests accused of abuse, including over 160 in the Archdiocese of Chicago, 19 from the Diocese of Belleville, and 43 from the Joliet Diocese. Cases with substantiated allegations include:

• Daniel McCormack was accused of abusing a minor male while in seminary and an altar boy in 1999. The Archdiocese ignored a warning about him in 2003, and he was arrested in 2005 on credible allegations of child abuse. The Archdiocese advised him to remain silent about the allegations, and he was released. Despite his history of abuse and arrest, he remained in ministry and became a dean in 2005. Finally, he was arrested again in 2006, removed from the ministry, pled guilty, and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
• Priest John Walter Calicott was suspended after he was credibly accused of sexually abusing two boys. He was sent to treatment, considered a non-threat, and allowed to return to active ministry. In 2004, while teaching sex education in a parish school, he was accused of sexually abusing four young boys when he was with the Chicago Archdiocese.
• Robert Friese, while a teacher at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, was accused of abuse of a 13-year-old boy. He was indicted while on leave from the Chicago Archdiocese and working as a researcher at the University of Illinois–Chicago’s child care program. He was convicted in 1985, resigned from the priesthood, and placed on probation for 4 years.
• In 2002 the Archdiocese received allegations that Joseph R. Bennett sexually abused three boys in the 1970s. Polygraphs confirmed this, but a review board found no cause to suspect him. However, in 2003 he was accused of abuse including the rape of two girls but kept on as a priest until the McCormack case broke. He was removed from the ministry in 2006.

Our attorneys have reviewed public and private settlement data related to Illinois clergy abuse settlements. Depending on the circumstances of your case, these cases may be fairly valued in the $400,000 to $950,000 range. In cases of extreme conduct or if that case were to go before a jury, damages could exceed $1 million.

Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team?

The traumatic, sensitive nature of abuse cases requires a law firm committed to supporting you every step of the way.

• $14,200,000 – Priest grooming and handling
• $4,100,000 – Deacon assault and rape
• $3,000,000 – Clergy child abuse filed in adulthood
• $2,475,000 – Volunteer-perpetrated Catholic church abuse
• $2,250,000 – Religious school priest teen sexual abuse
• $1,500,000 – Case filed against a deceased priest

Our clergy abuse lawyers how frightening it is to address past abuse, and we are dedicated to getting you justice while you heal. We’ve secured settlements for multiple victims of credibly accused clergy and have the expertise to take on your case in Illinois.

We represent victims of sexual abuse in the following Dioceses:

• Diocese of Belleville
• Archdiocese of Chicago
• Diocese of Joliet
• Diocese of Rockford
• Diocese of Peoria
• Diocese of Springfield

Contact Us

It can be difficult to take the first steps in seeking justice for yourself or a loved one who was sexually abused by priests in an Illinois diocese. Fortunately, our skilled lawyers are ready to stand by your side and navigate your case from consultation until trial and settlement.

Contact Injury Lawyer Team today and schedule a free consultation. Call us at 866-757-6452 or reach out to us online.

Related Practice Areas

• Illinois Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Aurora Clergy Abuse Lawyer
• Chicago Clergy Abuse Lawyer
• Joliet Clergy Abuse Lawyer
• Naperville Clergy Abuse Lawyer
• Rockford Clergy Abuse Lawyer

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.