Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. William “Bill” Cloutier

This page outlines the assignments, reported allegations of sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. William “Bill” Cloutier, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Illinois clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: William J. Cloutier
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father William Cloutier, Fr. William Cloutier, Fr. Bill Cloutier, William “Bill” Cloutier
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Associate Pastor
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. William “Bill” Cloutier was publicly identified as an accused Catholic priest through official disclosures by the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Illinois Attorney General’s statewide investigation into Catholic clergy sexual abuse.

His name appears in records released by the Archdiocese of Chicago and in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report, which compiled information from diocesan files, survivor reports, and other institutional records. The allegations associated with Cloutier involve reported sexual abuse of minors during his time in the parish and institutional ministry in Illinois.

There is no public record of a criminal conviction related to these allegations. However, Church and government disclosures document that reports of abuse were reviewed internally and were considered sufficient to warrant Cloutier’s inclusion on public lists of accused clergy.

Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Chicago; Illinois Attorney General’s Office (2023 Catholic Clergy Abuse Report)

Reason for Listing: Reported and reviewed allegations of sexual abuse of minors; inclusion in diocesan disclosures and statewide reporting following internal review of Church records and survivor reports

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1975
• Years in Active / Public Ministry: 1975–1991
• Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Chicago (Illinois), including Chicago, Oak Forest, and Skokie
• Restrictions: Removed from public ministry in 1991
• Removal / Resignation: Removed from ministry in 1991; resigned from the priesthood in 1993
• Laicization: No public record of laicization
• Died: 2003
• Reported Survivors: The Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report attributes 23 reported survivors to Cloutier
• Public Disclosure / Listing Date: Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Chicago on March 20, 2006

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago

Illinois Assignments (as identified in public disclosures):

• St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Chicago, Illinois
• St. Damian Parish in Oak Forest, Illinois
• Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Chicago, Illinois
• St. Peter Parish in Skokie, Illinois

Institutional Assignment: Pope John Paul II Catholic Center, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)

These assignments establish the settings in which Fr. William “Bill” Cloutier exercised pastoral authority and had access to minors through parish life, sacramental preparation, and university-affiliated Catholic ministry.

Known Allegations

Fr. William “Bill” Cloutier has been accused of sexually abusing multiple minors during his time as a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Public disclosures describe allegations spanning several decades, with reported misconduct occurring between the early 1960s and the late 1980s.

According to the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report, reported abuse locations associated with Cloutier include Chicago, Oak Forest, Skokie, and Putnam County, Illinois. The reported timeframes include multiple overlapping periods, and the Attorney General attributes 23 reported survivors to Cloutier, indicating repeated allegations over time.

Public records indicate that at least one allegation was reported to diocesan authorities by 1979, while Cloutier was still in active ministry. Additional allegations surfaced in subsequent years, including after periods during which he reportedly underwent evaluation and was returned to ministerial settings.

While public summaries do not provide detailed narrative accounts of each report, consistent elements across Church and government disclosures are that the allegations involved minors, occurred during Cloutier’s priestly service, and were reviewed internally by Church authorities. No criminal conviction is reflected in available public records.

Summary: Fr. William “Bill” Cloutier was publicly identified by the Archdiocese of Chicago and referenced in statewide reporting as a priest accused of sexually abusing multiple minors in connection with his parish and institutional ministry in Illinois.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods (Archdiocese of Chicago):

• Cardinal John Cody
• Cardinal Joseph Bernardin

Associated Organizations: University-based Catholic ministry at the University of Illinois at Chicago

Legal / Advocacy Bodies Referenced: Illinois Attorney General’s Catholic Clergy Abuse Investigation (2023)

Institutional Actions and Review

Public disclosures and released Church records indicate that the Archdiocese of Chicago was aware of allegations involving Fr. William “Bill” Cloutier while he remained in active ministry. According to statewide reporting, diocesan officials acknowledge receiving at least one report concerning Cloutier by 1979.

Rather than immediate, permanent removal, the records reflect that Cloutier remained in ministry for several years after the reports were received. Publicly released documents and reporting describe a broader Church practice during this period that included evaluation, treatment, monitoring, and reassignment rather than immediate removal from clerical roles.

By the late 1980s, Cloutier was reportedly subject to monitoring. In 1991, he was formally removed from public ministry. He later resigned from the priesthood in 1993.

There is no indication in public summaries that prior allegations were consistently disclosed to receiving parishes or institutions during earlier assignments. Cloutier was publicly identified years after his removal, when the Archdiocese of Chicago released lists of clergy with substantiated allegations and when the Illinois Attorney General published its statewide findings. His name now appears on the publicly available list of accused clergy in Illinois.

Public records do not reflect a criminal prosecution resulting in a conviction. Civil litigation related to abuse allegations involving Cloutier was resolved through broader settlements involving the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Timeline

1975 — Ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago

1960s–1980s — Reported period during which alleged abuse occurred in Illinois

1970s–1980s — Served in multiple Chicago-area parishes and institutional assignments

1979 — Diocese acknowledges receipt of a report concerning Cloutier

Late 1980s — Reportedly subject to monitoring

1991 — Removed from public ministry by the Archdiocese of Chicago

1993 — Resigned from the priesthood

2003 — Died

March 20, 2006 — Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Chicago following internal review

2023 — Referenced in the Illinois Attorney General’s Catholic Clergy Abuse Report

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. William “Bill” Cloutier or another Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse statewide and offers confidential consultations to help individuals understand their rights and potential legal paths. You can speak with an experienced Illinois clergy abuse lawyer in a private, supportive setting.

Sources and Public Records

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

• The Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 Report on Catholic Clergy Abuse, which lists William J. Cloutier as an accused priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago and attributes multiple reported survivors to him.
• Publicly available documentation compiled by BishopAccountability.org, which aggregates diocesan records, court filings, and media reporting related to allegations involving William J. Cloutier.
• Archived reporting from ABC7 describing the release of the Chicago Archdiocese priest files and related disclosures concerning clergy sexual abuse allegations.

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.