Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Victor Stewart

This page outlines the documented assignments, reported allegations of sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. Victor E. Stewart, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s representation of survivors in Illinois clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Victor E. Stewart
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Victor Stewart, Fr. Victor Stewart, Rev. Victor E. Stewart
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic Priest; Parish Pastor; Chaplain
• Current Status: Deceased 

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Victor E. Stewart was publicly identified as an accused member of the Catholic clergy through official disclosures released by the Archdiocese of Chicago and later documented in materials published by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. His name appears in diocesan lists of clergy accused of sexual misconduct involving minors and in statewide investigative reporting examining how Catholic dioceses handled allegations of child sexual abuse.

The Illinois Attorney General’s investigation reviewed Stewart’s personnel records, survivor reports, and Archdiocesan correspondence as part of a broader examination of institutional responses to abuse allegations. These materials confirm that Stewart was included in public disclosures following internal Church processes and later government review.

Entity that Listed Him:

• Archdiocese of Chicago
• Illinois Attorney General’s Office (Clergy Abuse Investigation)

Reason for Listing:

• Substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors as reflected in Church disclosures and state investigative materials

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1978
• Years in Ministry: 1978–1994 (restricted beginning in 1992)
• Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Chicago (Illinois)
• Restrictions: Placed in a limited ministry with restrictions and monitoring in 1992
• Removal / Reassignment: Removed from unrestricted parish ministry following abuse and misconduct reports
• Laicization: Not publicly documented
• Public Disclosure / Listing: Listed by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2006; included in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 investigation
• Died: June 1994

Assignment History in Primary Diocese or Order

Primary Diocese/Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago

Fr. Victor E. Stewart served in multiple parish and institutional roles within the Archdiocese of Chicago. His assignments placed him in positions of authority and trust within parish communities, including environments where minors were regularly present.

Archdiocesan Assignments:

• St. Thaddeus — Chicago, IL
• St. Catherine of Genoa — Chicago, IL
• St. Charles Lwanga — Chicago, IL
• St. Ailbe — Chicago, IL
• Mercy Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center — Chaplaincy role, Homewood, IL

Exact start and end dates for each assignment are not consistently listed in publicly released summaries. Church records indicate Stewart remained in ministry, including restricted roles, until his death.

Known Allegations

According to Church disclosures, survivor reports, and investigative records, Fr. Victor E. Stewart was accused of sexually abusing minors throughout much of his priesthood. Public records indicate the alleged abuse occurred from 1975 through 1993, primarily in Chicago-area parish settings and related rectory environments.

The Illinois Attorney General’s materials list reported abuse occurring in:

• 1975 — Mundelein, IL
• 1976–1977 — Chicago, IL
• 1979–1993 — Chicago, IL

Survivor accounts describe repeated sexual abuse of boys during Stewart’s parish assignments, including circumstances in which minors lived in or spent extended periods inside parish rectories. Investigative materials state that senior Archdiocesan officials, including Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, were aware that boys were living in rectories connected to Stewart’s assignments.

Church and investigative records indicate Stewart allegedly abused dozens of minors. By 2009, records reflected more than 30 claims, and the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report references 47 reported survivors, most of whom were Black and connected to predominantly Black parish communities.

In addition to sexual abuse allegations, Archdiocesan records document concerns regarding financial misconduct, including mismanagement and possible theft of parish funds. These issues arose alongside abuse reports and contributed to internal Church actions.

Summary: Fr. Victor E. Stewart was accused of sexually abusing numerous minors over many years during his parish ministry in Chicago; Church authorities later restricted his ministry.

Overseeing Authority During Key Periods:

• Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Archdiocese of Chicago
• Senior Archdiocesan leadership, including the Vicar for Priests

Legal / Advocacy Bodies Referenced:

• Illinois Attorney General’s Office
• Survivor advocacy reporting documented by BishopAccountability.org

Institutional Actions and Review

Public records indicate that Archdiocesan leadership was aware of concerning conduct by Fr. Victor E. Stewart prior to the imposition of formal restrictions. Internal correspondence from the early 1990s reflects awareness of Stewart’s close relationships with minors, rectory living arrangements involving boys, and financial irregularities at parish assignments.

The Archdiocese later identified 1990 as the year in which allegations of sexual abuse were first formally reported. Interviews with survivors were conducted, but Stewart continued in ministry for a period thereafter and was reassigned between parishes.

By 1992, the Archdiocese placed Stewart in limited ministry with restrictions and monitoring. In June 1992, he was reassigned to serve as a live-in chaplain at Mercy Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, despite the presence of minors working at the facility. Stewart remained in restricted ministry until his death in June 1994.

Stewart was not publicly disclosed during his lifetime. His name was later included in diocesan disclosures released in 2006 and subsequently documented in statewide investigative materials addressing accused clergy members in Illinois.

An independent review commissioned by the Archdiocese later examined concerns that Black survivors faced heightened scrutiny when reporting abuse by Stewart. The Illinois Attorney General concluded that, while intentional discrimination was not established, the Archdiocese’s approach had a disparate impact on Black survivors and contributed to distrust within affected communities.

Timeline

1978 — Ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago

1978–1994 — Served in parish and institutional assignments within the Archdiocese of Chicago

1975–1993 — Alleged sexual abuse of minors reportedly occurred in Mundelein and Chicago-area parish settings

1990 — The Archdiocese later identified this year as the first formal report of abuse allegations to Church authorities

1991 — Resigned from parish ministry amid financial and misconduct concerns

June 1992 — Reassigned to chaplaincy at Mercy Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

1992 — Placed in a limited ministry with restrictions and monitoring

June 1994 — Died

March 2006 — Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Chicago as an accused priest

2023 — Included in the Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation materials

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. Victor E. Stewart or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse and offers confidential, trauma-informed legal support. Speak with an experienced Illinois clergy abuse lawyer to understand your rights and explore your legal options.

Sources and Public Records

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

• The Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation materials and narrative report for Victor E. Stewart, which document Fr. Victor E. Stewart’s inclusion in the Illinois clergy abuse investigation.
• The Archdiocese of Chicago’s official disclosures and personnel records regarding Fr. Victor E. Stewart.
• BishopAccountability.org’s documentation and related survivor reporting archives, including a 2005 news report referencing allegations and public complaints connected to Stewart.

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.