Sexual Abuse and Assault Injury Lawyers
Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Mark A. Campobello
Father Mark A. Campobello is a former Catholic priest who was accused and charged with multiple sexual abuse claims. The abuse affected multiple victims during his ministry career in the Diocese of Rockford.
- Primary Entity Name: Mark A. Campobello
- Common Variations / Aliases: Father Campobello, Fr. Mark, Mark Campobello
- Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Assistant Principal, Spiritual Director
- Current Status: Laicized and no longer in ministry
This page summarizes the history of abuse allegations against Campobello, his ministry assignments, and the institution’s response to his conduct.
Public Identification and Clergy Status
Mark A. Campobello has been identified publicly by multiple entities for substantiated sexual abuse claims, including:
- The Diocese of Rockford in Illinois, on November 14, 2018
- A 2023 report from the Office of the Attorney General in Illinois
- Indicted on criminal charges in 2003
The Diocese of Rockford listed Campobello in a letter of substantiated sexual abusers in the clergy. Since there were also criminal charges against Campobello, to which he pleaded guilty, he has also been included in the Attorney General’s report of substantiated claims in 2023.
Key Status Facts
Ordination Year: 1991 in the Diocese of Rockford
Years in Active Ministry: 1992-2003 (11 years)
Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Rockford in various parishes and Aurora Central Catholic High School
Restrictions: Removed from ministry in 2002
Criminal Convictions: Pleaded guilty to two charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in 2004, sentenced to eight years in prison
Laicization: 2005
Public Disclosure: November 14, 2018, in the Diocese of Rockford
Assignment History
Primary Diocese: Diocese of Rockford
Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):
1991 – Ordained
1992-1994 – Holy Family in Rockford, IL
1995 – St. Peter’s Church in Geneva, IL
1996-1997 – St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rockford, IL
1997 – Holy Angels Church in Aurora, IL
1998-1999 – St. Peter’s Church in Geneva, IL
2000 – St. Patrick’s Church in McHenry, IL
2001 – St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Crystal Lake, IL
2002-2003 – St. James Church in Belvidere, IL
2005 – Laicized after being imprisoned in 2003
Known Allegations
In 1999, Mark A. Campobello was working at Aurora Central Catholic High School and living at the St. Peter Church rectory in Geneva, IL. The pastor of St. Peter expressed concerns about Campobello’s closeness with a 14-year-old girl, with whom he was frequently seen eating with in public. The vicar general of the Diocese confronted Campobello about his behavior, to which the priest denied any inappropriate conduct and vowed to end the relationship.
It eventually became clear that he was sexually abusing the girl, who came forward to her parents in the summer of 2002. While the Diocese began an investigation, Campobello was arrested by Geneva Police in December 2002. He eventually pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
Campobello also admitted to abusing a 16-year-old girl at Aurora Central High School between 1999 and 2000. Bishop Thomas Doran was informed of the concerning relationship between Campobello and the student in late 1999. After confronting Campobello, the bishop accepted his word that there was no abuse and that the relationship would end. Bishop Thomas Doran did not take any further action other than noting Campobello’s tendency to get into concerning situations with female minors.
In February 2000, Campobello was removed from his role at Aurora Central by the diocese for failing to terminate the relationship with the student. When confronted by the vicar general, he admitted to some physical contact between the two of them and agreed to seek counseling and behavior modification programs out of state. However, the public was not notified of Campobello’s conduct, nor did the diocese take any action to support the victim.
This second victim came forward after Campobello’s arrest in 2002 to share her story. This added a new charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, to which he pleaded guilty in 2004. Campobello served a prison sentence until 2010, when he was released and seemingly returned to Crystal Lake.
Summary: Sexual abuse allegations against two young girls resulted in Mark A. Campobello being criminally charged and arrested, though the diocese’s handling of his conduct was questionable at best.
Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: Bishop Thomas George Duran (leader of the Diocese of Rockford from 1994 to 2012).
Associated Organizations: The Diocese of Rockford and Aurora Central Catholic High School
Institutional Actions and Review
Mark A. Campobello was continuously questioned about his inappropriate relationships with underage girls, but he was not challenged until one of his victims told her parents about the abuse. When community members noticed Campobello dining alone with the 14-year-old or allowing her into his office to “use the computer,” the vicar general accepted his account of the matter, provided he vowed to discontinue the relationship. When the victim informed her parents, the diocese began an investigation, but Geneva Police soon arrested Campobello.
In 1999, Bishop Thomas Doran met with the man named on a list of accused IL priests to discuss his public relationship with the 16-year-old victim. The bishop also accepted his account, on the condition that the relationship end. In both these scenarios, the victims were being sexually abused by Campobello, even though he vowed to terminate the relationships to his superiors.
The diocese never took further action in response to these allegations, simply stating that Campobello had a pattern of concerning relationships with young girls. There is also little evidence of church officials or the diocese supporting the victims of Campobello’s conduct. After his arrest in 2004, the church eventually laicized him in 2005.
Timeline
1991 – Mark A. Campobello is ordained in the Diocese of Rockford
1992-2003 – Assigned to various parishes in Illinois, as well as Aurora Central Catholic High School
1999 – Campobello abuses a 14-year-old girl at St. Peter, while denying the questions raised by the church pastor and the vicar general of the diocese
1999-2000 – Campobello abuses a 16-year-old girl at Aurora Central, vows to end relationships after concerns are raised by superiors
2002 – One of the victims recounts her experience to her parents, after which Campobello is arrested on charges of sexual abuse
2004 – Campobello pleads guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse and begins his prison sentence
2005 – Laicized
2010 – Released from prison and supposedly settled in Crystal Lake, IL
Speak With an Attorney
Survivors of clergy abuse are often afraid to tell their stories for fear of reprisals or out of shame. At the Injury Lawyer Team, we will help you tell your story and fight for justice with a civil claim. We offer a confidential consultation, so you have the space to share in a safe setting with compassionate Illinois clergy abuse attorneys.
Contact us today if you are interested in scheduling a free consultation to discuss your prospects for fair compensation from a lawsuit.
Sources
This page is based on public records, official Church and diocesan disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including:
- The Office of the Attorney General’s profile on Mark A. Campobello
- The Office of the Attorney General’s survivor narratives of Campobello’s victims
- A letter from the Diocese of Rockford regarding the list of substantiated sexual abuse allegations against members of the clergy
- A list of the various bishops leading the Diocese of Rockford
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.