Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Norman D. Goodman

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

• Primary Entity Name: Norman D. Goodman
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Norman Goodman, Fr. Norman Goodman, Monsignor Norman Goodman, Norman Goodman
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic Priest, Monsignor, Parish Priest, Youth Ministry Involvement
• Current Status: Removed from Ministry (Deceased)

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Norman D. Goodman was publicly identified as a credibly accused Catholic priest in Illinois through official Church disclosures and state-level reporting. His name appears in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 Report on Catholic clergy sexual abuse in Illinois, which compiled information from diocesan records, public disclosures, and survivor reports.

Goodman was also listed by the Catholic Diocese of Peoria among clergy who were removed from ministry in connection with allegations involving the sexual abuse of minors. Public disclosures reflect the Diocese’s determination that the allegations were credible for purposes of removal and reporting. Goodman’s status as a Monsignor, a title bestowed by the Vatican upon recommendation of his bishop, is noted in public records and was referenced in reporting concerning his standing within the Diocese at the time allegations emerged.

Entity that Listed Him: Catholic Diocese of Peoria; Illinois Attorney General’s Office (2023 Report)

Reason for Listing: Credible allegations of child sexual abuse documented through diocesan review and included in the Illinois Attorney General’s statewide clergy abuse investigation

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1960
• Years in Active Ministry: 1960–2002
• Primary Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Peoria (Illinois)
• Locations Where He Served: Parish assignments in Moline, Lincoln, Atlanta, and Mason City, Illinois
• Reported Period of Alleged Abuse: Approximately 1970–1995
• Reported Survivors: Diocesan records disclosed to investigators reference 19 survivors
• Restrictions / Removal: Withdrawn from public ministry and placed on permanent leave in 2002
• Laicization: Not publicly reported
• Public Disclosure / Listing Date: Listed by the Diocese of Peoria on November 29, 2018; included in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report
• Died: 2013

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Peoria (Illinois)

Parish and Institutional Assignments (as documented in diocesan disclosures and public reports)

• Sacred Heart Catholic Church — Moline, Illinois (1960s)
• St. Patrick Catholic Church — Lincoln, Illinois (1960s–1970s)
• St. Mary Catholic Church — Atlanta, Illinois (1970s)
• Holy Family Catholic Church — Lincoln, Illinois (1970s–1980s)
• St. Columba Catholic Church — Mason City, Illinois (1980s–1990s)

These assignments establish the parish settings and time periods relevant to the allegations later documented in diocesan and state disclosures. Goodman’s ministry involved regular contact with minors through parish life, including altar service and youth-related activities.

Non-Church Assignments: No separate non-parish institutional assignments (such as schools, hospitals, or religious communities outside parish ministry) have been publicly documented.

Known Allegations

Fr. Norman D. Goodman was the subject of multiple allegations of child sexual abuse involving minors connected to parish settings within the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. According to public disclosures and survivor reports summarized by Church and state authorities, the alleged abuse occurred over an extended period spanning approximately the 1970s through the mid-1990s, primarily in central Illinois.

Public records indicate that more than one survivor reported abuse, and diocesan files disclosed to investigators reference 19 individuals who alleged sexual abuse by Goodman. The alleged misconduct occurred in parish settings where Goodman served in pastoral roles that placed him in regular contact with children, including altar servers.

Church officials reviewed the allegations and deemed them credible for purposes of removal and public listing. There is no indication in public records that the allegations remain under internal review, nor that Goodman was returned to ministry following their substantiation. No criminal conviction has been publicly reported in connection with these allegations.

Summary: Fr. Norman D. Goodman was publicly identified by Church and state authorities as a credibly accused priest, with multiple allegations of child sexual abuse reported to have occurred during his parish ministry in Illinois over several decades.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: Bishops of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria serving during Goodman’s years of active ministry

Associated Organizations: Catholic Diocese of Peoria; parish communities within the Diocese

Legal / Investigative Bodies Referenced: Illinois Attorney General’s Office (2023 statewide clergy abuse report)

Institutional Actions and Review

Public disclosures indicate that Church authorities within the Catholic Diocese of Peoria were aware of allegations involving Fr. Norman D. Goodman by the late 1990s, with diocesan summaries referencing reports received as early as 1997–1998. Available public records do not indicate that formal restrictions were imposed when these initial allegations were reported.

Diocesan records reflect that Goodman continued in ministry after the alleged abuse period, and there is no indication in publicly released materials that information about allegations or concerns was shared during parish transfers. Public reporting does not indicate whether earlier complaints or warnings were documented in his personnel file prior to the formal review.

Goodman stepped down from parish ministry in the late 1990s, before formal disciplinary action was initiated. Following an internal review, the Diocese of Peoria placed him on permanent leave and withdrew him from all public ministry in 2002. One allegation was forwarded to local prosecutors while the alleged victim was still a minor; no criminal charges were filed. The Diocese issued public statements following that decision.

Goodman’s name was later included on the Diocese’s public list of clergy accused of sexual abuse and was subsequently referenced in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 statewide report. As with other cases documented through state investigation and legal discovery, his inclusion on the Diocese’s public disclosure list and the broader list of accused clergy in Illinois occurred years after the alleged abuse and initial reports, reflecting later institutional review and public acknowledgment.

Public records do not indicate that Goodman was laicized, reassigned to another diocese, or returned to ministry following his removal.

Timeline

1960 — Ordained as a Catholic priest (Diocese of Peoria, Illinois)

1960s — Began parish ministry at Sacred Heart (Moline, IL)

1960s–1970s — Served at St. Patrick (Lincoln, IL)

1970–1995 (approx.) — Alleged sexual abuse of minors reportedly occurred during parish ministry in Illinois

1970s — Served at St. Mary (Atlanta, IL)

1970s–1980s — Served at Holy Family (Lincoln, IL)

1980s–1990s — Served at St. Columba (Mason City, IL)

1997–1998 — Diocese reports receiving allegations

Late 1990s — Resigned/retired from parish ministry

2002 — Withdrawn from all public priestly ministry

2013 — Died

November 29, 2018 — Publicly listed by the Diocese of Peoria

2023 — Named in the Illinois Attorney General’s statewide clergy abuse report

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. Norman D. Goodman 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 and Public Records

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

• The Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 clergy abuse report narrative for Norman D. Goodman, which documents diocesan disclosures, survivor reports, and investigative findings related to Fr. Goodman.
• The Catholic Diocese of Peoria’s official list of clergy removed from ministry, where Fr. Goodman is publicly identified following diocesan review.
• Investigative reporting and source documentation compiled by BishopAccountability.org – Norman D. Goodman profile, which aggregates court filings, diocesan records, media reports, and public disclosures related to allegations involving Fr. Goodman.

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.