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	Priest Accused of Abusing STC Child By Kate Thayer The Chronicle January 9, 2010 http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2010/01/08/22350732/index.xml ST. CHARLES – A Joliet priest that appeared to attempt suicide by jumping off a church balcony is accused of sexually abusing a St. Charles child. The Rev. Alejandro Flores, 37, on Wednesday, jumped off the 20-foot choir balcony St. Mary’s Carmelite Church in Joliet, which is no longer in use, police said. Two days earlier, St. Charles police received reports that Flores sexually abused a St. Charles child and referred the information to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, according to St. Charles police spokesman Paul McCurtain. No charges have been filed and Flores has not been arrested. He reportedly remains hospitalized, but his condition was unclear Friday. State’s Attorney John Barsanti said his office is investigating Flores, but could not offer additional comment. Flores, who is a native of Bolivia, was ordained in June and was the parochial vicar of Holy Family Parish in Shorewood. Prior to that he served as a deacon at St. Elizabeth Seton in Naperville. He was placed on administrative leave this week after a St. Charles family alleged that he had abused their 13-year-old son, according to a statement from Diocese of Joliet Bishop J. Peter Sartain. The boy and his family were not parishioners of the Shorewood church, he said. As part of that leave, Sartain removed Flores’ rights to perform sacraments or dress as a priest, and alerted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. On Wednesday morning, church officials filed a missing person report with Joliet police when they couldn’t find Flores, according to a diocese spokesman. Tips from other priests led officials to St. Mary’s, where they found Flores. Diocese officials say they are cooperating with the investigation and that no other allegations of abuse involving the priest had surfaced. Sartain said he was “saddened beyond words” about the allegations and what he deemed an attempted suicide. “I have been deeply grieved for the young boy whose family reported the abuse and for the entire family, and my prayers for them have not ceased,” Sartain said in a statement. “This added tragedy compounds what was already a great sorrow and I ask you to join me in fervent prayer.” Contact: kthayer@kcchronicle.com
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