Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Joseph J. M. Tully

• Primary Entity Name: Joseph J. M. Tully
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Joseph, Fr. Joseph Tully, Joseph Tully
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Deceased (1982)

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Joseph J. M. Tully has been publicly identified for sexual abuse by multiple entities, including:

• Diocese of Rockford, IL, on November 14, 2018
• Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, TX, on January 31, 2019
• Diocese of Beaumont, TX, on January 31, 2019
• Office of the Attorney General in Illinois

The reason for these entities listing Tully for sexual abuse is due to substantiated allegations of abuse by at least seven victims. 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1925

Years in Active Ministry: 1926-1971 (45 years)

Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Rockford (IL), Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (TX), Diocese of Beaumont (TX)

Restrictions: None

Criminal Convictions: None

Laicization: Not laicized before he died in 1982

Died: 1982

Public Disclosure: Named in multiple Church lists of substantiated sexual abusers and the Attorney General’s report of abusive clergy

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Rockford 

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• 1926-1929 – St. James in Rockford, IL
• 1930-1936 – St. Ann’s in Warren, IL
• 1937-1942 – St. Patrick’s in Hartland, IL
• 1943 – St. Patrick’s in Dixon, IL
• 1944 – St. Thomas Aquinas in Freeport, IL
• 1945-1949 – St. Catherine’s in Freeport, IL
• 1953-1959 – St. Mary’s Cathedral in Galveston, TX
• 1961 – Holy Name in Houston, TX
• 1962 – St Theresa in Galveston, TX
• 1963-1966 – St. Anne in Beaumont, TX
• 1968 – St. Anne in Beaumont, TX
• 1969-1971 – St. John the Baptist in Savana, IL
• 1972 – Retired

Known Allegations

According to the 2023 report from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, there were at least seven survivors of reported sexual abuse by Joseph J. M. Tully. The allegations span multiple decades and states.

The first reported abuse occurred in 1948 in Stephenson County in Illinois, which was during the time Tully was assigned to St. Catherine’s. Another survivor claimed to have been abused in the same county, though the exact year of this incident is unknown. 

The next report of sexual abuse occurred in 1959 in Kane County, IL. Another victim claimed to have been abused in the late 60s or early 70s in Winnebago County, IL. Some time before 1969, one of Tully’s victims was abused in Texas, potentially while he was assigned to St. Anne in Beaumont, TX. Another victim reported abuse that occurred in 1972, though the location of the misconduct is unknown. Lastly, a final victim claimed that Tully abused them in Whiteside County, IL, though the year is not mentioned in the Attorney General’s report. 

Summary: Though there were at least seven sexual abuse victims across multiple decades, there is no record of these reports being made known to the Diocese before Joseph J. M. Tully died in 1982. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Diocese of Rockford – Bishop John Boylan in 1948 (first incident), Bishop Loras Lane in 1959 (second incident), Bishop Arthur O’Neill in 1968 (during Winnebago County incident)
• Diocese of Beaumont – Bishop Vincent Madeley Harris in the late 60s (during the Diocese of Beaumont assignment)
• Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston – Bishop Wendelin Joseph Nold from 1950-1975, Coadjutor Bishop John Morkovsky from 1963-1975

Institutional Actions and Review

At the time of Tully’s retirement in 1972 and death in 1981, no action had been taken by churches or any other overseeing entities in response to sexual abuse allegations. The reports of abuse were not made public until long after the accused priest’s death. Therefore, Tully was not subjected to any disciplinary reviews or actions during his career in either Illinois or Texas. 

An investigation by the Attorney General’s Office in Illinois began in 2018, after which a 2023 report was published that listed Joseph J. M. Tully as an alleged perpetrator of sexual abuse against at least seven victims. Additionally, various dioceses began including Tully on their lists of IL priests with substantiated sexual abuse allegations in 2018, starting with the Diocese of Rockford.  

Timeline

1925 – Ordained in the Diocese of Rockford

1926-1971 – Held parish assignments throughout Illinois and Texas

1948 –  Date of the first reported sexual abuse case, which occurred in Stephenson County, IL

1959 – Date of another reported case of sexual abuse, this time in Kane County, IL

Late 1960s or early 1970s – Approximate date of another case of sexual abuse

1969 or earlier – Allegations of sexual abuse occurred in Texas

1971 – Joseph J. M. Tully retires from the clergy

1972 – Another survivor was abused in an undisclosed location

1972-1982 – Status and access to minors are unknown

1982 – Joseph J. M. Tully dies

2018 – The Office of the Attorney General in Illinois begins its investigation of clergy abuse in the state

2018 – Tully is listed under substantiated sexual abuse allegations by the Diocese of Rockford

2019 – Tully is listed under substantiated sexual abuse allegations by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the Diocese of Beaumont

2023 – The Office of the Attorney General in Illinois publishes its findings on clergy sexual abuse in the state, including Joseph J. M. Tully as a perpetrator against multiple victims

Speak With an Attorney

As a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, you deserve the chance to hold the at-fault parties accountable and fight for fair compensation for legal damages. The Injury Lawyer Team is prepared to stand by your side during the claims process to seek justice. 

If you have suffered at the hands of a clergy member in this state, contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse attorney. 

Sources

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

• A profile of Joseph J. M. Tully on the Attorney General’s website
• A list of entities that have publicly identified Joseph J. M. Tully from Bishop Accountability
• A letter written by the Diocese of Rockford with a list of all substantiated allegations of sexual abuse against clergy members, including Joseph J. M. Tully

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.