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	Priest Defends Himself from Two Accusers By Chuck Salvatore Southwest News-Herald August 29, 2007 http://www.swnewsherald.com/news_frontpage/2007/08/082907olbv_priest.php The parishioners of St. Albert the Great in Burbank gathered Friday in support of their pastor, the Rev. Robert Stepek. Stepek is accused of sexually molesting two young boys in the 1980s while serving as an associate pastor at St Symphorosa Church in Chicago. The two boys are brothers and had been family friends for many years with Stepek. Around 200 supporters gathered at Niko's Restaurant in Bridgeview to show support for Stepek. Most were from St. Albert the Great. However there were also people from St. Symphorosa and other priests who have known Stepek for years. The atmosphere around the room was upbeat. Many in attendance were happy they were able to see their pastor for the first time in months. No one there believed the charges; instead, most think the brothers are out to hurt Stepek. Among those attending was the Stepek family. Both his parents, his brother and sister, were in attendance as well as other family members, and all were very humbled by the turnout. "It's beautiful," said Dorothy Stepek, the priest's mother, talking about the turnout. "He couldn't do it without all of this support." Dorothy Stepek's eyes watered when asked to describe her son, but a big smile also spread across her face. "He is the greatest, I just love him," she said. She does not understand why these brothers would make such accusations about her son. She said she believes that it is strange that in all the years he has been a priest, only these two have come forward. Mrs. Stepek said she thinks that the brothers are out to hurt her son and are out for money. "No one else has ever accused him of anything, that is what is so strange about what the two boys said," said Mrs. Stepek. Father Stepek's brother, Scott Stepek, also believes the brothers are trying to get money. "The brothers are vindictive and are on the money train," he said. Scott Stepek also said he is suspicious that the allegations came out after his brother would not sponsor one of the brothers who wanted to become a priest. Scott Stepek added that he knows the brothers. "Our families were close. We were friends, we went on outings together," he said. Scott Stepek said that anyone who knows his brother has only good things to say about him. "I have never heard anyone say anything bad about my brother," he said. Burbank Mayor Harry Klein, who has attended St. Albert the Great for 40 years and has gotten to know Stepek, said he was upset when he heard the news about the brothers' accusations. "I was very distraught, but I knew they were not true," said the mayor. Klein described Stepek as an affable person and a very sacred priest, and is one who really loves the parish. On May, 13, 2006 —Father Stepek's 25th anniversary as a priest — he received a letter from Cardinal Francis George, telling him to vacate the residence at St. Albert the Great immediately because there was an accusation against him for sexual abuse. "It was supposed to be one of my proudest days as a priest, and it was one of the worst," said Stepek. When Stepek went in front of the Archdiocese's review board, he said that sharing of information between attorneys and the rules of evidence did not apply. After meeting with the review board on Oct. 20, 2006 and Nov. 3, 2006, Stepek received a letter saying there was reasonable cause to suspect truth in the sexual abuse allegations. According to Stepek, George wrote a letter stating there was no evidence of child abuse but, given the publicity of other cases and the strong testimony, he agreed with the board's decision. "I am the result of the Daniel McCormack case," said Stepek, referring to the Chicago priest who has been accused of being a pedophile. "The board told the Cardinal not to send McCormack back, (but) they did and look what happened." Stepek said that the Cardinal was not going to go against the board this time. He also addressed the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP). Stepek said that he believes in SNAP, and that if anyone has been abused by a priest they are the people to see. "(But) Barbara Blaine (SNAP president) is out for Cardinal George's head," said Stepek. Stepek said that Blaine and another SNAP official, Mark Anderson are listening to wrong advice on his case, and that they have a vendetta against the Archdiocese of Chicago. Stepek, however, does not like the way the Archdiocese is handling his case. "Cardinal George, I am not your pawn," said Stepek. Stepek said he has been waiting for 11/2 years for the Cardinal to make a decision. His status, said Stepek, remains the same after a supplementary review by the Cardinal. On July 16, 2006, the case was sent to the Vatican in Rome, but the Vatican has yet to review the case. Stepek said there are two ways a case like this is reviewed by Rome. In the first instance, an administrative decision is made after the Cardinal requests a review. In such an instance, the Cardinal will do what Rome wants. In the second instance, a penal process takes place in which the Church asks for an ecclesiastic trial, where the accusers can be charged with purgery if they lie. Stepek wants to have the ecclesiastic trial. Originally, according to Stepek, Cardinal George sent a letter to Rome asking for an administrative decision but has since sent a letter asking for a penal trial. "This is becoming too political," said Stepek. Stepek added that if this goes to trial, that it will be interesting to see if the brothers get more than two statements. "I am getting my guns ready, and I am going to go after them," said Stepek to a standing ovation at Friday's gathering. Stepek said that sexual predators have a history of abuse and don't stop. He said if he was a sexual predator, there should be more people coming forward with such allegations. He also said that he hopes other priests who are falsely accused do the same thing and not become afraid of political pressure. The Archdiocese cut Stepek's pay in half, and he is no longer allowed to perform the activities of a priest. He is living with his family, and joked that he has been cutting a lot of lawns to try to make ends meet. Some from St. Albert, he said, have told him to call them for a job, one of whom required that he take a polygraph test. Against his lawyers' advice, he took the test and passed. "Some of the questions they asked me were, 'Have you ever sexually abused anyone?', 'Have you ever used excess force on anyone?', 'Are these truthful statements?'" And I passed with flying colors," he said. He challenged his two accusers to take a polygraph test too. Stepek said he put in a request to speak with George but was told he had to submit a set of questions that he was going to ask the Cardinal. Stepek expects the brothers to file a new lawsuit against him for battery and invasion of privacy. But as of Monday's press deadline, no lawsuit had been filed. "I am scheduled to be the pastor of St. Albert the Great until 2010, and I will be your pastor until 2010," said Stepek to those in attendance.
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