Primary Entity Name: Raymond Skriba
Common Variations / Aliases: Father Skriba, Fr. Ray Skriba
Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic priest at St. Gertrude
Current Status: Deceased; previously restricted from ministry

This page summarizes Father Raymond Skriba’s assignments, sexual abuse reports, and institutional actions taken by religious officials. 

Father Raymond Skriba, a Catholic priest within the Archdiocese of Chicago and brother of accused priest Richard Skriba, has been accused of sexual misconduct and child sex crimes involving teenage boys and girls. Reports against Skriba detail crimes that occurred during his priesthood, spanning decades across multiple parishes in Chicago, IL, and surrounding areas.

These accusations have led to scrutiny of the church’s handling of such matters and raised questions about the accountability of the Catholic order in Chicago, IL, in addressing sexual crimes within its ranks.

At Injury Lawyer Team, we are committed to advocating for survivors. A Chicago clergy sexual abuse lawyer from our team can help Chicago, IL, victims hold abusers, like Skriba, and the institutions that enabled them accountable, pursuing justice and compensation for the harm they have suffered.

Public Identification and Clergy Status of Raymond Skriba 

There were a few accusations from teen girls against the priest until the early 2000s. However, some earlier reports against Skriba date back to the 1960s, when he was said to be sexually abusing teenage girls during his assignment at St. Gertrude. 

Skriba was found guilty of crimes against the girls, but no disciplinary action was taken. Instead, he was moved to another parish. The church’s stricter stance on sexual crimes in recent years has had a significant impact on public information available and the clerical status of anyone who is considered guilty of sexually abusing someone. 

The entity that listed him:

• Diocese of Chicago, IL
• BishopAccountability.org profile based on diocesan disclosures

Reason for listing:

• Credible report of child sex crimes against Skriba determined after diocesan internal review.

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1958
• Years in Active Ministry: Approximately 1958 to the early 2000s
• Primary Service Area: Diocese of Chicago, IL
• Restrictions Placed: Skriba was removed after a claim deemed credible in the early 2000s
• Removal / Resignation: Skriba was removed from active ministry following a report. This began with his being removed for five years. After the first five years, it was to be reviewed to determine if he needed to be removed permanently. 
• Laicization: Not publicly documented
• Public Disclosure Date: Listed by the Chicago Archdiocese during post-2002 transparency reviews

Assignment History in Primary Diocese or Order

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Chicago, also known as the Archdiocese

• 1957-1962: Queen of the Universe, Chicago, IL
• 1962-1967: St. Gertrude, Franklin Park, IL
• 1967-1970: St. Walter, Chicago, IL
• 1970-1976: St. Joseph, Round Lake, IL
• 1976-1984: Immaculate Conception, Waukegan, IL
• 1984-2002: St. Joseph, Round Lake, IL

Many accused priests had multiple assignments in the same community throughout their priesthood, leading to credible reports in numerous locations. Records regarding Skriba can be spotty, occasionally due to cover-ups, resulting in entries being off by a year or two or assignments overlapping. 

Known Allegations

The accusations against Father Raymond Skriba include accusations of sexually abusing children and misconduct involving teenage girls. Many who survived have reported incidents where Skriba used his position as a priest to groom and exploit minors.

Some have detailed how Skriba’s abuse occurred in settings such as religious facilities and during private interactions. They describe Skriba as creating opportunities to be alone with teenage girls, where he allegedly engaged in inappropriate and abusive behavior. There are several known reports regarding Raymond Skriba sexually abusing minors.

Summary of Public Allegation

• An IL survivor reported that Raymond Skriba was sexually abusing them when they were a minor.
• Incidents reportedly occurred in the late 1960s or 1970s at a parish where he was assigned.
• The Diocese reviewed the complaint and found it credible. He was moved to another assignment away from the children he was previously sexually abusing. 
• Several more reports were made in 2002, when many victims came forward. 

Key Details of the First Allegation: 

• Location of Alleged Abuse: St. Gertrude 
• Approximate Year: Late 1960s to 1970s
• Church Assessment: Credible accusation following internal review
• Number of Accusations: Several
• Summary Line: The Diocese determined that a survivor’s claim of child sex crimes by Father Skriba was credible.

Contextual Entities

• Overseeing Authority (Period of Abuse): Bishops Andrew Grutka and later Bishop Norbert Gaughan
• Associated Organizations: None publicly referenced
• Advocacy / Research Bodies: Bishop Accountability researched the case

The Archdiocese of Chicago investigated the accusations against Skriba. The independent review board determined there was “reasonable cause” to believe the reports of his sexually abusing children were credible and substantiated. The guilty finding resulted in Skriba’s removal from public duties and a permanent ban on serving as a priest to remove access to minors.

Despite these actions, advocates have criticized the religious institutions’ delayed response, arguing that earlier intervention could have prevented further harm.

Institutional Actions and Review

Reports about Father Raymond Francis Skriba have prompted investigations by the Archdiocese of Chicago and broader discussions of accountability within the IL Catholic religious order.

• Credible accusations of his sexually abusing minors were received and investigated in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in him being moved to another assignment that was away from the victims. Although there was little evidence, it was acknowledged that the priest had almost admitted to the crimes, and then said he was the one abused. 
• The Diocese received the allegation during its internal review process (post-2002 procedures).
• Officials restricted Skriba from priesthood duties once the allegation was deemed credible.
• There is no public evidence that the pastor was reassigned after restrictions were imposed in 2002, ensuring he did not have access to minors. 
• No documentation indicates prior complaints, and diocesan records were not fully released to the public.
• The diocese publicly listed the pastor after reviewing historical files.
• Public disclosure occurred as part of expanded transparency initiatives following the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

The Archdiocese’s review board investigated Skriba’s conduct, reviewing survivor testimonies and other evidence. The board’s conclusion that the accusations were substantiated resulted in Skriba’s removal from public service. He was allowed to practice Mass alone in his home. His name was also added to the Archdiocese’s list of clerical members with substantiated reports.

Timeline

• 1957: Ordained 
• 1957-1962: Queen of the Universe, Chicago, Illinois
• 1963: First formal allegation
• 1962-1967: St. Gertrude, Franklin Park, Illinois 
• 1967-1970: St. Walter, Chicago, Illinois
• Late 1960s–1970s: Alleged abuse believed to have occurred during service in Illinois; additional reports were made later when more victims came forward about the whole matter
• 1970: Cardinal John Cody wrote the abusive priest a letter telling him to forget about the reports against him because nothing good would come from proving them true, and to put the whole matter behind him. 
• 1970: Accusations against the pastor were investigated by Monsignor Frank Byrne. The victims’ statements were corroborated, and Byrne documented that he believed Skriba was guilty. It was recommended that he be moved from St. Walter. 
• 1970-1976: St. Joseph, Round Lake, Illinois
• 1976-1984: Immaculate Conception, Waukegan, Illinois
• 1984-2002: St. Joseph, Round Lake, Illinois
• 2002: Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People implemented nationwide
• Post-2002: The IL Diocese restricts Skriba from public duties after reviewing the allegation
• Disclosure Period (2000s): The Diocese publicly lists Skriba as credibly accused
• 2002: Allegation received by the Professional Responsibility Review Board; multiple people came forward. Reports included girls who alleged sexual crimes in 1995, a man who said the abuse from the pastor began when he was 14, and more. 
• 2002: Offered his letter of resignation due to the cases against him; some sources say the resignation was because of the whole matter, and the effort it took to fight the accusations
• 2003: The IL Professional Review Board found reasonable cause to suspect sexual misconduct; the pastor was removed from ministry and monitored until he died. 
• 2014: Died
• 2014: Personal file was released, including details of Skriba’s misconduct, Cardinal Francis George signing off on his removal from ministry, and more. 

Speak With an Attorney

Survivors of IL clergy sexual abuse may have legal options even when the accused priest is deceased or the abuse occurred decades ago. Although this is never a good situation, and can take years to heal, compensation can help you on your healing journey. Contact us for a confidential consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse lawyer. 

Sources and Public Records

Details on this page are based on diocesan disclosures, public records, and survivor reports. No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated. 

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.