Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Ralph S. Strand

This page outlines the assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. Ralph S. Strand, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s work representing survivors of clergy abuse in Illinois. 

• Primary Entity Name: Ralph S. Strand 
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Ralph Strand, Fr. Ralph Strand 
• Role/Title at Time of Alleged Abuse: Parish priest, associate pastor, pastor
• Current Status: Deceased; guilty plea in a criminal sexual assault case; listed publicly by the Archdiocese of Chicago 

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Ralph S. Strand was publicly identified as a priest accused of sexual abuse through multiple public sources, including:

• The Illinois Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Database 
• Bishop Accountability which summarizes his status as a priest 
• The Archdiocese of Chicago 

Entity that Listed Him: Illinois Attorney General (Clergy Abuse Database), Archdiocese of Chicago (public lists referenced in public summaries), Bishop Accountability
Reason for Listing: Multiple allegations of abuse involving minors and a guilty plea in a criminal sexual assault case

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1964 

Reported Survivors: At least 8  

Periods/Locations of Reported Abuse: 1971–1973 (Bellwood), 1980–1984 (Chicago), 1989–1993 (Chicago) 

Diocese claim of first report: 1993 

Criminal case outcome: Received a 4-year sentence in a plea bargain; paroled in 4/1997 after serving 21 months. Registered sex offender. Allowed to wear his Roman collar in public by the Archdiocese in 1999. 

Died: 2013

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago 

Parish Assignments:

• St. Eugene- Chicago, Illinois (1964–1968)
• St. Simeon- Bellwood, Illinois (1968–1975)
• St. Thecla- Chicago, Illinois (1975–1981)
• St. Francis Borgia- Chicago, Illinois (1981–1986)
• St. Mary- Des Plaines, Illinois (1986–1991)
• St. Francis Borgia- Chicago, Illinois (1991–1993)

Non-parish assignments: Internal Archdiocese records in the publicly posted personnel file reference additional roles and church functions during his time in parish ministry, including involvement with youth-related activities referenced in survivor statements (for example, school and youth groups).

Known Allegations

Public summaries and records describe multiple allegations that Fr. Strand sexually abused minors across different periods of his parish service. The Illinois Attorney General’s database lists reported abuse periods as 1971–1973 in Bellwood, 1980–1984 in Chicago, and 1989–1993 in Chicago, and reports at least eight survivors. 

In the Archdiocese personnel file made public via BishopAccountability, survivor statements describe alleged abuse and sexualized conduct connected to St. Simeon in Bellwood during the early 1970s, including reports that a nun was told about the behavior around 1973, and that allegations were later formally reported in 1993 (with multiple victim statement abstracts dated 1993 in the file).

BishopAccountability’s profile also summarizes a separate criminal matter involving abuse of a boy beginning when the boy was 15 in 1990, stating Strand later entered a guilty plea, received a prison sentence, and was paroled after serving time. 

Summary: Fr. Strand was the subject of multiple allegations of abuse involving minors, with reported abuse spanning the 1970s through the early 1990s, and a criminal case ending in a guilty plea. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Joseph Cardinal Bernardin- Archbishop of Chicago (1982-1996)
• Cardinal Francis George- Archbishop of Chicago (1997-2014)

Institutional Actions and Review

Archdiocese records in the publicly posted personnel file show Strand’s status changed in 1993, when internal meeting memos referenced that he had been placed on administrative leave and would probably not return to the pastorate at St. Francis Borgia, followed by documentation that the Cardinal accepted his resignation from the pastorate effective immediately in May 1993.

The file also reflects later internal review activity. For example, an Archdiocese memorandum documenting a Professional Responsibility Review Board meeting dated October 16, 2004, describes review of allegations and recommended investigative steps, and later meeting materials in the file reflect continued review and restrictions.

Strand was removed from public ministry in March 1993, later permitted by the Archdiocese to wear a Roman collar in public after parole in 1999, and was first placed on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s public list of accused clergy on March 20, 2006. He was later included in the Illinois Attorney General’s statewide report released in 2018.

Timeline

1964 — Ordained in the Archdiocese of Chicago
1964–1968 — St. Eugene, Chicago, IL
1968–1975 — St. Simeon, Bellwood, IL
1971–1973 — Reported abuse period listed by Illinois AG (Bellwood, IL)
1975–1981 — St. Thecla, Chicago, IL
1980–1984 — Reported abuse period listed by Illinois AG (Chicago, IL)
1981–1986 — St. Francis Borgia, Chicago, IL
1986–1991 — St. Mary, Des Plaines, IL
1989–1993 — Reported abuse period listed by Illinois AG (Chicago, IL)
1991–1993 — St. Francis Borgia, Chicago, IL
1993 — Diocese claim of the first report
1993 — Administrative leave and resignation from pastorate documented in Archdiocese records
1995 — Guilty plea and sentencing in a criminal sexual assault case
2004 — Internal Archdiocese review board documentation in the posted personnel file
2006 — BishopAccountability summary indicates inclusion on the Archdiocese’s public list
2013 — Died
2023 — Included in the Illinois Attorney General’s reporting on clergy abuse 

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was abused by Fr. Ralph S. Strand or another Catholic priest in Illinois, you may still have legal options. A confidential consultation can help survivors understand potential civil claims and the next steps.

Contact an Illinois clergy abuse lawyer today to learn more about your options. 

Sources

This page is based on diocesan disclosures, public records, and survivor reports. 

Key sources used include:

• The Illinois Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Database entry and narrative for Ralph S. Strand
• Bishop Accountability profile (clergyreport.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov)
• Archdiocese of Chicago personnel file 

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.