Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Theodore W. Feely

This page summarizes the sexual abuse allegations against Theodore W. Feely, a former priest working in the Diocese of Rockford in Illinois. 

• Primary Entity Name: Theodore W. Feely
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Theodore, Fr. Theodore Feely, Theodore Feely
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Associate Pastor
• Current Status: Deceased (1991)

The following sections will set forth Theodore Feely’s background, assignments, allegations of abuse, and career timeline. 

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Several entities have publicly identified Father Theodore Feely for substantiated sexual abuse allegations, including:

• The Diocese of Rockford, IL, on November 14, 2018
• The Diocese of Las Vegas, NV, on April 12, 2019
• The Diocese of Stockton, CA, on November 12, 2020
• The Archdiocese of Chicago, IL, on October 14, 2022
• The Attorney General’s Office of Illinois

The reason these entities listed him was due to substantiated sexual abuse allegations against two survivors. 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1958

Years in Active Ministry: 33 years (1958-1991)

Locations Where He Served: Diocese of San Diego, Diocese of Monterey-Fresno, Archdiocese of Chicago, Diocese of Rockford, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Diocese of Stockton, Diocese of San Bernardino, Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas

Restrictions: N/A

Criminal Convictions: None

Laicization: N/A

Died: 1991

Public Disclosure: Listed by multiple public church lists starting in 2018

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports): 

• St. Thomas – Arlington, CA (1958-1961)
• St. Paul the Apostle – Pismo Beach, CA (1961-1962)
• St. Peter’s – Avila, CA (1961-1962)
• St. Bronislava – Chicago, IL (1962-1963)
• Queen of Angels – Riverside, CA (1963-1968, 1976-1978, 1982-1988)
• St. Anthony of Padua – Rockford, IL (1968-1973)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe – Riverside/Arlington, CA (1973-1975)
• St. John of God – Norwalk, CA (1978-1981)
• St. George’s – Stockton, CA (1981-1982)
• St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral – Reno, NV (1988-1991)

Non-Church Assignments:

• Riverside General Hospital and Juvenile Hall – Riverside, CA (1976-1978)
• California Youth Authority, Southern Reception Center and Clinic – Norwalk, CA (1978-1981)
• Riverside General Hospital – Riverside, CA (1982-1988)
• Riverside County Jail – Riverside, CA (1986-1988)

Known Allegations

Father Theodore W. Feely was accused of sexual abuse by a man and his brother during the Associate Pastor’s stint at St. Anthony of Padua in Rockford, IL. The victims did not come forward about the abuse until after Feely died in 1991.

The first victim, “Kevin,” was only 13 years old when his interactions with Theodore Feely became concerning. It started with encouragements to smoke and drink beer, although Kevin was underage and had asthma. The first night Kevin consumed alcohol purchased by Feely, the priest proceeded to rape him while keeping him in a chokehold. Feely then told Kevin to keep the abuse a secret, or it would destroy his family. 

Kevin attempted to report the act during a confession at Saints Peter and Paul, but the priest who heard his confession dismissed him. His memories of the abuse were suppressed until 2002, when he decided to report the abuse to the Diocese of Rockford. At this time, the Vicar General of the Diocese admitted that another complaint about Feely had been reported just one month earlier. 

Since Theodore Feely was a member of the order of the Conventual Franciscan, it was the Diocese’s policy to refer the earlier investigation to that religious order, so no further action was taken after the first report. 

Summary: Theodore W. Feely was accused of sexually abusing two boys during his assignment at St. Anthony of Padua, but he passed away before these allegations were brought forward and substantiated. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Bishop Martin J. O’Neill – Diocese of Rockford (at time of incident)
• Bishop Thomas G. Doran – Diocese of Rockford (at time of reporting)

Institutional Actions and Review

Based on public records and the Attorney General’s Office in Illinois, no institutional actions were taken against Theodore Feely for sexual abuse while he was still alive. Although Kevin attempted to report the rape to a Catholic order priest during confession shortly after the incident, that priest did not take action to initiate an investigation or review. Based on all public records, there is no evidence of the accused priest experiencing any disciplinary or restrictive actions based on sexual abuse allegations. 

In May 2002, Kevin reported the incident to Monsignor David Kagan, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Rockford at the time. An investigation was not initiated because the Diocese’s policy is to refer investigations to the priest’s order, even if they occur within the Diocese. After the Attorney General’s investigation, this policy was eliminated and although Feely was one of the accused IL priests, he hasn’t been criminally prosecuted. 

Timeline

1958 – Ordained by the Conventual Franciscans of St. Bonaventure Province

1958-1991 – Various assignments throughout California, Illinois, and Nevada

1968 – Assigned to St. Anthony of Padua as an Associate Pastor in Rockford, IL

1968 – Allegedly rapes a 13-year-old boy

1969 – Allegedly sexually abuses another boy

1991 – Dies while serving as a Pastor in Reno, CA

2002 – Two boys came forward to report allegations of sexual abuse that occurred when Theodore Feely was at St. Anthony of Padua

2018-2022 – Feely is placed on the public list of substantiated sexual abusers in the Diocese of Rockford, followed by Las Vegas, Stockton, and the Archdiocese of Chicago

Speak With an Attorney

If you have experienced sexual abuse by a member of the clergy, the Injury Lawyer Team can help. Our attorneys offer a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case and potential legal options. 

Together, we can build a strong claim to help you recover legal damages and hold the at-fault parties accountable. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our Illinois clergy abuse lawyers. 

Sources

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

• A narrative of the victim’s abuse from the Attorney General’s Office
• A letter from the Diocese of Rockford detailing the priests and clergy involved in substantiated sexual abuse allegations
• A profile of Theodore Feely from the AG’s Office in Illinois
• A timeline of assignments for Theodore Feely from the Bishop Accountability website

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.