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	Pastor Investigated in Property Transaction Steps Aside By David Jackson Chicago Tribune February 13, 2011 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-chicago-priest-rev-thaddeus-dzieszko-investigated-for-elder-abuse-steps-aside-20110213,0,2273713.story A popular Chicago priest is stepping aside from his parish responsibilities as authorities examine the circumstances under which he became trustee of an elderly parishioner's home last year. Rev. Thaddeus Dzieszko, pastor at St. Constance Roman Catholic Church on Chicago's Northwest Side, has not been accused of wrongdoing in any court proceeding, and he told the Tribune the property transaction was completely innocent. The case stems from April, when 93-year-old Waleria Krzemien signed papers transferring her home to a land trust with Dzieszko as the trustee. The trust documents say the home would belong to Krzemien during her lifetime but pass to Dzieszko upon her death. There are sharp disputes about whether Krzemien was mentally competent when she signed the trust and deed papers. The Cook County public guardian obtained a September 2010 medical examination which drew on Krzemien's patient charts and a doctor's interview and concluded that she had suffered from dementia for years and "totally lacked capacity to sign legal documents" in April. Dzieszko told the Tribune that Krzemien's mental health was excellent until she suffered two strokes months after signing the legal papers. In April, "she was a very open-minded, happy person. She was able to remember everything with good memory," Dzieszko said. In October, a Cook County probate judge signed an order appointing the Cook County public guardian to represent Krzemien and safeguard her assets. Judge Lynne Kawamoto's order said Krzemien was "the subject of [an] elder abuse investigation due to allegations of financial exploitation." Days later, Dzieszko signed two deeds relinquishing any interest he might have in Krzemien's home. The matter is now being reviewed by the Cook County state's attorney's office, according to government officials involved in the case. Dzieszko's decision to step aside from his responsibilities at St. Constance, pending the outcome of the investigation, came after a Tribune reporter interviewed him about the disputed trust. He remains the pastor of the parish. Church law prohibits any priest from exploiting a parishioner's trust for personal gain, and the Chicago archdiocese issued a statement saying it "will continue to work with and cooperate with the civil authorities in this matter." Contact: dyjackson@tribune.com
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