Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Kenneth Ruge

This page outlines the assignments, substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. Kenneth Ruge, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Illinois clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Kenneth Charles Ruge
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Kenneth Ruge, Fr. Kenneth Ruge, Fr. Ken Ruge
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Associate Pastor
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Kenneth Charles Ruge was publicly identified as a priest with substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse by Church authorities and was later included in statewide government reporting in Illinois. He appears on official disclosure lists following an internal review by the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The Archdiocese of Chicago determined that allegations of sexual abuse involving minors against Fr. Ruge were substantiated following an internal investigation. His name was later included in the Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse disclosures, which examined how allegations were reported and handled across dioceses in the state. Public summaries indicate that multiple survivors came forward over time and that Church review bodies concluded there was reasonable cause to believe misconduct occurred. Ruge was ultimately removed from ministry and remained out of active service until his death.

Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Chicago; Illinois Attorney General’s Office (clergy abuse disclosures)

Reason for Listing: Substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse following internal Archdiocesan investigation and review; inclusion in public disclosure lists identifying clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1963
• Years in Active Ministry: Served in Archdiocesan assignments until his removal from parish and public ministry in 1991
• Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Chicago (Illinois)
• Reported Survivors: 24, as reflected in public summaries
• Restrictions: Limited ministry with restrictions and monitoring beginning in November 1986
• Removal / Reassignment: Removed from public and parish ministry in January 1991 and did not return to parish work
• Laicization: No public record indicates that he was formally laicized
• First Report to Diocese: 1986, as reflected in Archdiocesan summaries
• Public Disclosure / Listing Date: March 20, 2006
• Died: 2002

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago

Parish Assignments (as reflected in Archdiocesan summaries and public records):

• St. Rosalie Catholic Church — Harwood Heights, IL (1963–1967)
• Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church — Evergreen Park, IL (1967–1975)
• Divine Infant Catholic Church — Westchester, IL (1975–1981)
• St. Leonard Catholic Church — Berwyn, IL (1981–1987)
• Divine Savior Catholic Church — Norridge, IL (1987–1991)

These assignments establish the parish settings during which allegations of sexual abuse were later reported by survivors and reviewed by Church authorities.

Non-Church Assignments: Public summaries reference Fr. Ruge’s involvement in parish-related activities outside traditional worship settings, including youth-related outings and trips. Some allegations describe abuse occurring during off-site and out-of-state activities, including travel connected to parish functions.

Known Allegations

Fr. Kenneth Charles Ruge was the subject of multiple reports of sexual abuse involving minors, as documented in Archdiocesan records and later public disclosures. Allegations span several decades and involve multiple locations associated with his ministry.

According to summaries reflected in public reporting, the alleged abuse occurred primarily from the late 1960s through the mid-1980s. Reported locations include parish settings and related contexts in Evergreen Park, Berwyn, Westchester, Harwood Heights, Chicago, and Woodhaven, Illinois, as well as out-of-state locations, including Colorado, in connection with trips or activities linked to parish life.

Archdiocesan review bodies determined that the allegations against Fr. Ruge were substantiated following an internal investigation. Public disclosures indicate that 24 survivors came forward over time. Records further indicate that concerns about his conduct were known to Church leadership before his formal removal from ministry.

No criminal conviction is reflected in public court records. However, the Church’s substantiation findings, survivor reports, and subsequent institutional actions reflect the seriousness of the allegations as presented in official disclosures.

Summary: Fr. Kenneth Charles Ruge was accused of sexually abusing multiple minors over an extended period while serving in Chicago-area parishes and related settings; Church authorities substantiated the allegations following internal review.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Cardinal John Cody — Archdiocese of Chicago
• Cardinal Joseph Bernardin — Archdiocese of Chicago

Associated Organizations: Archdiocese of Chicago parish programs

Legal / Advocacy Bodies Referenced:

• Illinois Attorney General clergy abuse disclosures
• Archdiocese of Chicago internal review processes

Institutional Actions and Review

Public disclosures indicate that Archdiocese of Chicago officials were formally notified of allegations concerning Fr. Kenneth Charles Ruge by 1986. Following these reports, the Archdiocese imposed restrictions and monitoring, limiting his ministry prior to later public disclosure.

Fr. Ruge remained within the Archdiocesan structure until January 1991, when he was removed from parish and public ministry. Publicly available disclosures do not indicate that parish communities were broadly informed of the allegations at the time of his removal or during earlier assignments.

Later internal reviews reflected that multiple complaints had accumulated over time, leading Church authorities to determine that the allegations were substantiated. Public identification occurred years later, following broader disclosure initiatives by the Archdiocese.

Fr. Ruge was ultimately included on the list of accused clergy in Illinois, following the Archdiocese of Chicago’s public release of clergy with substantiated allegations. He remained out of ministry until his death in 2002.

Timeline

1963 — Ordained as a priest (Archdiocese of Chicago)

1963–1967 — Assigned to St. Rosalie Catholic Church (Harwood Heights, IL)

1967–1975 — Assigned to Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church (Evergreen Park, IL)

1975–1981 — Assigned to Divine Infant Catholic Church (Westchester, IL)

1981–1987 — Assigned to St. Leonard Catholic Church (Berwyn, IL)

1987–1991 — Assigned to Divine Savior Catholic Church (Norridge, IL)

Late 1960s–mid-1980s — Alleged abuse reportedly occurred in parish, off-site, and out-of-state settings

1986 (November) — First report to Archdiocese; restricted ministry and monitoring implemented

1991 (January) — Removed from parish and public ministry

2002 — Died

March 20, 2006 — Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Chicago

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. Kenneth Charles Ruge or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse throughout the state and understands the sensitive nature of these cases.

Contact our firm to request a confidential consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse attorney. We are here to help you understand your rights, explore your legal options, and take appropriate action.

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on public records, official Church disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including the following:

• The Illinois Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Database, which lists Fr. Kenneth Charles Ruge among clergy publicly disclosed in Illinois with substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse.
• Official Archdiocese of Chicago personnel and review documents released as part of the Archdiocese’s disclosures concerning clergy with substantiated allegations, detailing assignments, reported concerns, and institutional actions.
• A BishopAccountability.org archived report summarizing Archdiocese of Chicago records and review findings related to allegations against Fr. Ruge, including timelines, reported survivor counts, and restrictions imposed by Church authorities.

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

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.