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  Priest: Child Abuse Accusations False

By Rev. Robert J. Lutz
Chicago Tribune
September 23, 1992

I must respond to the recent articles that appeared in the Tribune concerning the child abuse charges made against me by two Northbrook families.

These horrible accusations are completely and totally false. I have never abused these children or any children. I am completely innocent of these charges and deny any suggestion of wrongdoing. I have never even had any contact with these children, except that they might have been present at public church functions, such as attending mass at school along with their teachers and classmates or at Sunday mass attended by all parishioners.

Every agency (including the police and the state's attorney's office) that has investigated these allegations has reached the same conclusion: that these charges are unfounded and not credible. After being told by the authorities that these allegations were not credible and that no criminal charges would be brought, these families responded by filing civil lawsuits seeking money damages.

These cases should now be tried in the forum selected by these families - the courtroom. These cases should not be tried in the newspaper. Because there is a court-imposed protective order that prohibits communication with the press, I cannot talk to the media about the details of these cases. Similarly I cannot talk about the details which have been revealed in the more than 20 depositions taken so far - including the depositions of my accusers, their doctors and their own private investigator. That will happen at a trial in a courtroom.

I have fully cooperated with all authorities investigating this matter. In fact, as soon as the allegations of the second family were made known to me, my attorneys - with my agreement - reported these charges to authorities and sought a thorough investigation.

As I have stated in the past, child abuse is a terrible and damnable sin - a sin which I have never committed. False accusations of child abuse are equally horrible. I have been deeply humiliated and irreparably hurt by these false charges. While the families hide behind assumed names, they use the press to broadcast my name in an attempt to prejudice my right to a fair trial.

It is disturbing to know that these families are trying to win their lawsuits in the newspaper. Two of the parents in these families are lawyers. As at least they should know, "trial by the press" cannot replace these families' responsibility to present evidence at a legitimate trial - evidence that does not exist because these alleged incidents never happened.

Finally, I wish to publicly thank and acknowledge Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, the good and kind people of my parish and of the Archdiocese of Chicago, who have endured these terrible and false accusations with me, and who have never wavered in their support of and belief in me. Their prayers and support have sustained me during this difficult period. I have not done and would not do anything to betray their trust. I pray for these families and ask you to do the same.

 
 

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