Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Salvatore V. Formusa

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

• Primary Entity Name: Salvatore V. Formusa 
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Salvatore Formusa, Fr. Salvatore Formusa, Rev. Salvatore V. Formusa 
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Pastor, Counselor, and Psychotherapist roles while in ministry
• Current Status: Deceased 

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Salvatore V. Formusa was publicly identified as a credibly accused cleric by multiple Church entities and government materials, including:

• The Diocese of Joliet, which publicly acknowledged him as credibly accused in 2006 
• The Archdiocese of Chicago, which later acknowledged him as a substantiated abuser in October 2022 
• The Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigative materials, which include a detailed narrative of admitted abuse, institutional decision-making, and later restrictions 

Formusa was ordained in 1935 for the Archdiocese of Chicago, then became a priest of the Diocese of Joliet after the Diocese was established in 1948, and his assignment territory fell within the new diocese. 

• Entity that Listed Him: Diocese of Joliet, Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois Attorney General 
• Reason for Listing: Credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of children, including an incident documented as admitted to diocesan leadership, later allegations involving minors, and subsequent restrictions and removal from ministry 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1935
Primary Church Jurisdiction: Diocese of Joliet, with early service in the Archdiocese of Chicago and later acknowledgement by both entities
Public List Placement: April 9, 2006, Diocese of Joliet; October 14, 2022, Archdiocese of Chicago
Reported Survivors: At least 1 reported in the Illinois Attorney General database, with narrative materials describing multiple reports and prior incidents referenced by local law enforcement
Known Law Enforcement Awareness: The Illinois Attorney General narrative describes diocesan leadership consulting a local police chief who stated he knew of two prior incidents involving Formusa, in addition to the admitted incident discussed in diocesan notes
Removal From Ministry: Removed from ministry in 2002
Death: 2006 

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese at Ordination: Archdiocese of Chicago
Primary Diocese of Service: Diocese of Joliet 

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• Saint Anthony, Joliet, Illinois (1945 to 1950) 
• Holy Trinity, Westmont, Illinois (early 1960s, including October 1962) 
• Immaculate Conception, Braidwood, Illinois (circa 1963 to 1964) 
• Immaculate Conception, Elmhurst, Illinois (dates not specified)
• Saint Lawrence, South Wilmington, Illinois (dates not specified)
• Saint John the Baptist, Winfield, Illinois (dates not specified)
• Saint Luke, Carol Stream, Illinois (dates not specified)
• Saint Anthony, Frankfort, Illinois (dates not specified)
• Saint Mark, Wheaton, Illinois (dates not specified)

Non Church Assignments:

• Psychological testing and therapy placement, Alexian Brothers facility in Wisconsin (late 1962, after abuse was documented by diocesan leadership) 
• Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, Illinois (dates not specified)
• Counseling and psychotherapy role, adults, under diocesan permission, while restrictions on contact with children were stated by diocesan leadership (early 1970s and later)

Known Allegations

Illinois Attorney General narrative materials describe Fr. Formusa’s first known instance of abuse as occurring in the early 1960s while he was pastor of Holy Trinity in Westmont. 

The narrative explains that diocesan documentation was limited, and that the account is preserved largely through shorthand notes kept by Romeo Blanchette, who was vicar general at the time and later became Bishop of Joliet. 

According to those notes, around October 1962, a 9-year-old girl came to Formusa in a pastoral context, and the notes describe inappropriate sexualized conduct, including kissing, discussion of sexual topics, and indecent exposure. 

The narrative further reports that Blanchette consulted the local police chief, who stated he knew of two earlier incidents involving Formusa, including a prior report of improper advances and another report that a teenage girl did not want to be alone with him. 

The Attorney General’s narrative describes Blanchette speaking with Formusa, documenting that Formusa admitted the child’s account and did not deny guilt. 

The narrative then states that Blanchette sought to avoid scandal and sent Formusa to an Alexian Brothers psychiatric facility in Wisconsin for evaluation and therapy, followed by reassignment to another parish within months. 

A second documented allegation involving a minor appears in the narrative as occurring after his transfer to Immaculate Conception in Braidwood. 

In May 1964, the mother of a 15-year-old girl complained to the diocese about rectory-based interactions that the narrative describes as inappropriate and sexualized. The narrative further reports that diocesan leadership determined there was a grave risk and required Formusa to resign from that assignment. 

Despite this sequence, the narrative states that the Diocese returned Formusa to ministry approximately six months later, in November 1964. 

The Attorney General narrative then describes a major escalation in July 1968, when Formusa was formally charged in DuPage County with indecent liberties with a child, described as fondling a young girl under the age of 16, with a note suggesting the child was 9. 

The narrative indicates that after these charges, diocesan action included withdrawing his faculties to hear children’s confessions in January 1969. 

The Attorney General database entry separately lists 1968 as a reported abuse year and indicates the diocese claims 1968 as the first report year. 

The narrative further describes the Diocese permitting Formusa in 1971 to provide psychotherapy to adults while stating he was forbidden from contact with children, and it asserts that he later shifted his misconduct to adult patients. 

The narrative references later complaints, including an allegation brought through counsel in 1985 involving a woman who claimed Formusa became sexually involved with her while he served as her therapist, and a separate allegation the diocese received in 2002 from another adult counselee regarding sexually inappropriate behavior during counseling in the 1970s.

Summary: Fr. Salvatore V. Formusa was credibly accused of sexually abusing children and was later removed from ministry; documented reports describe an admitted incident involving a 9 year old child in the early 1960s, subsequent allegations involving minors, later criminal charges in 1968, and decades of institutional decisions that continued to place him in roles of trust before his removal in 2002; credible and substantiated concerns span multiple communities within Illinois. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Cardinal Samuel Stritch, Archdiocese of Chicago 
• Bishop Romeo R. Blanchette, Diocese of Joliet 
• Bishop Joseph L. Imesch, Diocese of Joliet 

Institutional Actions and Review

The Illinois Attorney General narrative presents a detailed account of diocesan decision-making, emphasizing that diocesan leadership documented an admitted incident in 1962, communicated with local law enforcement about prior incidents, and then prioritized limiting public disclosure and avoiding scandal. 

The narrative states that Formusa was sent for evaluation and therapy, then reassigned rather than removed. He was not listed as one of the Illinois priests accused of abuse, and parishioners weren’t warned about his past. 

Following the May 1964 allegation involving a teenager, diocesan leadership again required that he resign from assignment, but the narrative states that he was returned to ministry within approximately six months. 

The July 1968 criminal charge is described in the narrative as a decisive moment that resulted in partial restrictions, including the removal of faculties to hear children’s confessions in January 1969. The narrative then describes a pattern in which the Diocese continued to allow pastoral work and later psychotherapy to adults, while stating restrictions regarding children, and that further allegations occurred involving adult counselees. 

The Diocese of Joliet ultimately removed Formusa from ministry in 2002, according to the Illinois Attorney General database entry and secondary summaries.

The narrative states that in 2006, the Diocese publicly acknowledged him as credibly accused. It further states that the Archdiocese of Chicago did not acknowledge him as a substantiated abuser until October 2022, despite his Chicago ties and residence after being credibly accused. 

Timeline

1935- ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago 
1945 to 1950- Saint Anthony, Joliet, Illinois 
December 1948- Diocese of Joliet established, Formusa became a priest of the new Diocese because his parish territory fell within it 
Early 1960s- pastor of Holy Trinity, Westmont, Illinois; the first known abuse period described by the Illinois Attorney General 
October 1962- documented incident involving a 9-year-old child, diocesan notes described by the Illinois Attorney General 
Late 1962- sent to an Alexian Brothers facility in Wisconsin for psychological testing and therapy, then reassigned 
May 1964- allegation involving a 15-year-old girl in the Braidwood assignment, resignation from the post required 
November 1964- returned to ministry, as described by the Illinois Attorney General narrative 
July 1968- formally charged in DuPage County with indecent liberties with a child, as described in the Illinois Attorney General narrative 
January 1969- faculties to hear children’s confessions withdrawn, as described in the Illinois Attorney General narrative 
1971- permitted to provide psychotherapy to adults with stated restrictions regarding children 
1985- the diocese was contacted by lawyer representing a woman alleging sexual involvement during therapy 
1988- Bishop Joseph Imesch’s letter referenced in the Illinois Attorney General narrative 
2002- removed from ministry; additional allegation from an adult counselee described in narrative 
2006- Diocese of Joliet publicly acknowledged credible accusation; Formusa later died in 2006 
October 14, 2022- The Archdiocese of Chicago acknowledged him on its substantiated allegations list  

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. Salvatore V. Formusa or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse across the state.

Contact us to book a confidential consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse attorney. We are here to help you understand your rights and take legal action.

Sources

• Illinois Attorney General Narrative
• Illinois Attorney General
• Archdiocese of Chicago Statement
• Bishop Accountability

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.