Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. James R. Burnett

This page outlines the documented assignments, reported allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. James R. Burnett, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Illinois clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: James R. Burnett
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father James Burnett, Fr. James Burnett, Rev. James R. Burnett
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. James R. Burnett was publicly identified by Church authorities and state investigators as a priest accused of child sexual abuse, based on reviews of diocesan records, survivor reports, and civil litigation. His name appears on formal disclosures released by the Diocese of Joliet and in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 Report on Catholic Clergy Abuse.

According to these public disclosures, multiple reports of sexual abuse involving minors were reviewed by Church authorities in later years and were ultimately included on the Diocese of Joliet’s public list of clergy against whom credible or substantiated allegations were reported. The allegations relate to Burnett’s service in several Illinois parishes during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Fr. Burnett was removed from active ministry prior to public disclosure. His name was later made public as part of broader transparency efforts by the Diocese of Joliet and the State of Illinois following additional institutional review.

Entity that Listed Him: Diocese of Joliet; Illinois Attorney General’s Office (2023 report)

Reason for Listing: Allegations of child sexual abuse reported by multiple individuals, reviewed by diocesan authorities, addressed through civil proceedings, and documented in the Illinois Attorney General’s investigation

Key Status Facts

• Ordained: May 25, 1968
• Years in Active Ministry: 1968–2006
• Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Joliet (Illinois), including assignments at St. Charles Borromeo (Bensenville), St. Mary (Mokena), Ss. Peter & Paul (Naperville), and the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus (Joliet)
• Reported Survivors: Five individuals (as noted in public reports)
• Restrictions / Ministry Status: Removed from ministry in 2006; later listed as permanently removed
• Laicization: Not publicly reported
• Public Disclosure / Listing Date: March 4, 2013
• Died: 2019

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Joliet, Illinois

Parish Assignments (as documented in public disclosures):

• St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensenville, Illinois (early 1970s)
• St. Mary Catholic Church in Mokena, Illinois (late 1970s–early 1980s)
• Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Naperville, Illinois (dates publicly listed but not precisely specified)
• Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet, Illinois (later assignment prior to removal from ministry)

These parish assignments establish the settings in which Fr. Burnett exercised pastoral authority and regularly interacted with minors through parish life, sacramental preparation, and youth-related activities. Public records and investigative reports identify these locations as relevant to the reported allegations.

Early or Transitional Roles: No separate seminary, chaplaincy, or out-of-diocese training placements have been publicly documented beyond parish ministry within the Diocese of Joliet.

Non-Church Assignments: No publicly disclosed non-parish institutional assignments, such as schools or hospitals, have been identified in available records.

Known Allegations

Multiple individuals accused Fr. James R. Burnett of sexually abusing minors, as reflected in diocesan disclosures, civil court filings, and the Illinois Attorney General’s statewide investigation into Catholic clergy abuse. The allegations involve inappropriate sexual conduct with minors connected to parish life during Burnett’s assignments.

According to public records, the reported abuse occurred at parish locations within the Diocese of Joliet during the 1970s and early 1980s, including St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensenville and St. Mary Catholic Church in Mokena. The Illinois Attorney General’s report notes that at least five individuals were identified as reported survivors.

Public reporting indicates that some allegations were initially disputed or unresolved when first raised, while others remained under review. The Diocese of Joliet later reopened its investigation and ultimately included Burnett on its public list of clergy with substantiated allegations, based on its internal review process.

No criminal conviction has been publicly reported in connection with the allegations against Burnett. The matters were addressed through civil litigation, diocesan review, and later public disclosure.

Summary: Public records reflect that multiple individuals accused Fr. James R. Burnett of sexually abusing minors in parish settings within the Diocese of Joliet during the 1970s and early 1980s; following later institutional review and civil proceedings, Church authorities publicly listed the allegations as credible or substantiated.

Overseeing Authority During Key Periods:

• Diocese of Joliet, Illinois (bishops in office during the relevant periods)

Associated Organizations:

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet
• Parish-based youth and sacramental programs

Legal and Advocacy Bodies Referenced:

• Illinois Attorney General’s Office (2023 Clergy Abuse Report)

Institutional Actions and Review

Public disclosures indicate that the Diocese of Joliet received reports regarding Fr. Burnett by 2005. He was subsequently removed from ministry in 2006, prior to his inclusion on diocesan public lists.

Beginning in 2006, civil lawsuits were filed alleging sexual abuse during Burnett’s earlier parish assignments. Some claims were dismissed on procedural grounds, including for failure to meet the applicable statute of limitations, while others remained subject to further review. In 2010, the Diocese of Joliet reopened its investigation into the allegations.

In March 2013, the Diocese of Joliet publicly identified Burnett as one of the clergy members with substantiated allegations. That same year, a civil matter involving allegations against Burnett was resolved through settlement, which resulted in the lifting of a protective order and the release of portions of diocesan personnel files pursuant to court order. Additional personnel records were made public in subsequent years as part of broader transparency measures.

Publicly available records do not clearly indicate whether information about allegations was shared during Burnett’s parish transfers or whether earlier concerns were formally documented prior to the first known report year. What is documented is that public disclosure followed later institutional review and civil proceedings rather than occurring at the time allegations were first reported, prior to Burnett’s inclusion on the list of accused clergy in Illinois.

Timeline

May 25, 1968 — Ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois

Early 1970s — Assigned to St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensenville, Illinois

Early 1970s — Reported abuse allegedly occurred during assignment at St. Charles Borromeo

Late 1970s–Early 1980s — Served at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mokena, Illinois

1978–1982 — Additional reported abuse allegedly occurred during service at St. Mary in Mokena

Dates Not Publicly Specified — Served at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Naperville

Dates Not Publicly Specified — Served at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, Joliet

2005 — Allegations reported to the Diocese of Joliet

2006 — Removed from active ministry

2010 — Diocese reopened investigation

March 2013 — Publicly listed by the Diocese of Joliet

2013–2014 — Civil settlement reached; personnel files released pursuant to court order

2019 — Died

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. James R. Burnett or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse throughout the state and provides confidential, survivor-focused legal support.

Contact our team to schedule a private consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse attorney. We are here to help you understand your rights and explore next steps toward accountability.

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 Clergy Abuse Investigation – James R. Burnett entry, which identifies Fr. Burnett as a priest with reported allegations of child sexual abuse documented during the statewide investigation.
• The Diocese of Joliet’s official list of clergy with substantiated allegations, which publicly lists Fr. James R. Burnett following diocesan review.
• A CBS News Chicago report detailing the Diocese of Joliet’s release of clergy personnel files, including records related to Fr. Burnett, following civil litigation and court orders.

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.