Rev. Robert Degrand Responds to His Removal As Pastor

By Bill Grimes
Effingham Daily News
May 14, 2015

http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/news/local_news/rev-robert-degrand-responds-to-his-removal-as-pastor/article_ca7e4006-f5da-11e4-9014-03d5b2b91637.html

Defending himself against his removal as pastor of four local Catholic parishes, the Rev. Robert "Bud" DeGrand said he's been judged guilty without a fair hearing, and that the actions of the Springfield Diocese "felt more like a witch trial than any real search for truth."

The ousted priest's comments were made this week in a letter addressed to "My dear brothers and sisters in Christ." Although he did not return a message from a reporter seeking comment, DeGrand sent the letter to the Effingham Daily News. Its authenticity was verified by George Nuxoll, a former trustee at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Sigel.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki on May 2 removed DeGrand from his parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville, citing a Diocesan Review Board finding that allegations of sexual misconduct against DeGrand were "credible." Those allegations stemmed from an alleged incident in 1980 while DeGrand was serving a parish in Jacksonville.

The priest has never been charged with a crime.

DeGrand had served the so-called "Four Parishes" for 16 years, and was removed despite what some members call his almost universal support.

"The Bishop has treated me as though I have already been adjudged guilty of wrongdoing and deserving of punishment," DeGrand said in the letter, adding that his appearance before the Diocesan Review Board in December 2013 "felt more like a witch trial than any real search for the truth."

DeGrand charged that Paprocki ignored letters of support from people he mentored during his time in Jacksonville, as well as a ruling by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, which reviewed the case last year. That group determined that the allegations against him were too old "to serve as a basis for punitive measures against my ministry," DeGrand said.

While DeGrand declined in the letter to outline his future plans, he encouraged members of his former flock to keep their heads up.

"My primary concern now and throughout this ordeal has been for you and your spiritual welfare," DeGrand wrote. "Although I am of course disappointed with the results of this process, and my removal as your pastor, I will soldier on.

"But the larger tragedy," he added, "would be to allow this sad series of events to affect your faith in God and in His Catholic Church."

DeGrand had been placed on administrative leave by Paprocki in January 2014, after the 34-year-old allegation from Jacksonville surfaced. The bishop said DeGrand's permanent removal was caused by the priest's unwillingness to abide by diocesan directives after he was placed on administrative leave — most notably, his refusal to leave Sigel.

DeGrand revealed in the letter that Paprocki offered him the monthly stipend typically given to retired priests if he would agree to leave the Four Parishes area. But DeGrand declined.

"Because I believed that resigning and leaving town would be tantamount to an admission of guilt," he wrote.

DeGrand also noted that Paprocki has disclosed "confidential and private medical facts," including items related to treatment underwent nearly 20 years ago.

"I have never authorized Bishop Paprocki to publicly disclose these facts, and the fact that he would do so demonstrates the level of pastoral support that I have received in this process," he said.

DeGrand has enjoyed so much support in recent months that parishioners banded together to buy him a home in Sigel. In addition, yellow ribbons of support have appeared around town.

Nuxoll, the former St. Michael the Archangel trustee, said the letter was DeGrand's way of responding to the series of events that led to his removal.

"I think he deserves a fair chance to respond," Nuxoll said. "I thought the letter was very well done."

Nuxoll said the priest is trying to decide what he wants to do next.

"There are several options he is looking at," said Nuxoll, who declined to comment further.

Eric Thompson, director of faith formation for all four parishes, said he does not think DeGrand is being treated fairly. He noted that Paprocki has never said there was any evidence other than the accuser's word.

"He and the review board are choosing to believe the accuser," Thompson said.

While Thompson isn't ruling out the possibility that the accuser was abused by someone, he doesn't believe it was DeGrand.

"There is no way I can believe anything but good things about Father Bud," he said, using DeGrand's nickname.

Diocesan spokeswoman Marlene Mulford, noting that the diocesan office is closed Fridays, said she did not know whether the letter was sent to Paprocki.

"I have no knowledge whether the bishop has received a copy of this letter," Mulford said, declining comment on the letter.