22 former Rockford Diocese clergy members accused in report on sexual abuse

WREX TV
March 20, 2019

https://bit.ly/2ugFK2G

A scathing new report has been released naming nearly 400 former and current clergy members of the Illinois Catholic Diocese who have been accused of sexual abuse.

The 182-page report was published Wednesday by the Minnesota-based law firm Jeff Anderson and Associates, which has lead the charge and filed the lawsuit demanding the Diocese release a full list of people accused of sexual abuse while working under the diocese.

The 395 men named in that report worked in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Springfield and Rockford. Twenty-two men with ties to the Diocese of Rockford are included in it.

Back in November, the Diocese of Rockford published a report that outlined the history of sexual abuse of minors in the diocese. It disclosed files and said that between 1950 and 2002, allegations of sexual abuse of a minor were substantiated against three priests. The total report included 15 names, something the diocese said Wednesday it stands by.

In a statement, the Rockford Diocese said it did not disclose allegations against many clergy on Anderson’s list “because the accusations either have not been substantiated or are completely without merit.”

Officials with the Rockford Diocese did say one name on Anderson’s list did not appear on their November 2018 report because they were unaware of the accusations. They say the Rev. Ivan Rovira committed sexual abuse after he left northern Illinois in the 1970s.

The Rockford Diocese also said in the statement, “Sexual misconduct by clergy, Church personnel, Church leaders and volunteers is contrary to Christian morals, doctrine and Canon Law. It is never acceptable and Bishop Davis J. Malloy has declared emphatically that ‘one case of abuse is one too many.'”

Below are the list of men with ties to the Rockford Dioceses who are accused in the report released by Jeff Anderson and Associates:

Fr. Alfredo Pedraza Arias

Notes: In 2013, Fr. Alfredo Pedraza-Arias moved from Colombia to Illinois to work within the Diocese of Rockford. In October 2014, the Rockford diocese removed Fr. Pedraza-Arias from ministry while he was under investigation for two allegations of child sexual abuse. In February 2016, Fr. Pedraza-Arias was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 13. He allegedly sexually abused two girls, under the age of 6, while he worked at Sacred Heart in Aurora, Illinois. In February 2018, Fr. Pedraza-Arias pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was not required to register as a sex offender. He was sentenced to 205 days in county jail with credit for time served. Fr. Pedraza-Arias was released to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities the day after he was sentenced. On February 26, 2018, Fr. Pedraza-Arias was deported back to Colombia. His status as a priest, whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.

Fr. James D. Campbell, M.S.C. 

Fr. James Campbell was removed from ministry in May 2002. He was indicted in 2003 and convicted in 2004 on
charges of rape, assault and battery, furnishing alcohol to a minor and committing an unnatural and lascivious act after he pleaded guilty to raping two adolescent males. The sexual abuse took place in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. At the time, Fr. Campbell was assigned to St. Joseph Church in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Fr. Campbell was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 10 years of probation. He was laicized in March 2005. In 2018, Fr. Campbell was included on the Diocese of Rockford’s list of Religious Order Priests/Brothers or Priests of another diocese, who worked within the geographical boundaries of the Rockford Diocese or were assigned in this Diocese, against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.

Fr. Mark A. Campobello

In 2002, Fr. Mark A. Campobello was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. In
approximately 1999, Fr. Campobello sexually abused the teenage girl while he worked as associate pastor at St. Peter in Geneva, Illinois. At that time, Fr. Campobello was assistant principal at Aurora Central Catholic High School, but occasionally said mass at St. Peter. In December 2002, Fr. Campobello was removed from his duties as parochial administrator at St. James in Belvidere and was later laicized in 2005. In 2003, new child sexual abuse charges were brought against Fr. Campobello. The charges allege he sexually abused a 15-year-old girl, from approximately 1999 to 2000, while he worked at Aurora Central Catholic High School. In 2004, Fr. Campobello pleaded guilty to sexually abusing both girls and was sentenced to eight years in prison. In 2007, the Diocese of Rockford settled two child sexual abuse lawsuits that included Fr. Campobello as a defendant. In 2008, Fr. Campobello was released from prison on parole. He was sent back to prison after he violated parole. In July 2010, Fr. Campobello was released from prison upon completion of his parole. In 2018, Fr. Campobello was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Diocese of Rockford Priests against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” It is believed Fr. Campobello currently resides in Aurora, Illinois. Whether he has access to children is unknown.

Fr. Harlan B. Clapsaddle

In January 1997, the Diocese of Rockford removed Fr. Harlan B. Clapsaddle from St. Anne’s in Dixon, Illinois, after allegations of child sexual abuse were made against him. In approximately the late 1970s, Fr. Clapsaddle is alleged to have sexually abused three brothers while he worked as a deacon at St. James in Rockford. The Rockford diocese found the allegations credible and sent Fr. Clapsaddle to treatment before he was reassigned to minister to the elderly at Provena Cor Mariae Center in Rockford. In 2002, the allegations against Fr. Clapsaddle were made public. On May 3, 2002, Fr. Clapsaddle resigned from his sacramental ministry position at Provena Cor Mariae Center and was transferred by the Diocese to an undisclosed location to stay with friends. In 2018, Fr. Clapsaddle was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “priests against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” From 2002 to the present, Fr. Clapsaddle’s status as a priest, whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.

Fr. Thomas Considine

In April 1980, the Rockford diocese removed Fr. Thomas Considine from ministry. In 2018, Fr. Considine was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “priests against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” Fr. Considine’s whereabouts and whether he had access to children from 1978 until his death are unknown.

Fr. Theodore W. Feely, O.F.M. Conv. 

Fr. Theodore W. Feely, O.F.M. Conv. was ordained a Conventual Franciscan Friar in 1958 and worked in various parishes throughout Illinois, California, and Nevada. In 2002, two survivors accused Fr. Feely of sexually abusing them from approximately 1968 to 1972 while he worked at St. Anthony of Padua in Rockford, Illinois. In 2006, one of the survivors filed a civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Rockford in which Fr. Feely was named. In 2018, Fr. Feely was named on the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Religious Order Priests/Brothers or Priests of another diocese, who worked within the geographical boundaries of the Rockford Diocese or were assigned in this Diocese, against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.”

Deacon Michael Frazier

Deacon Michael Frazier was ordained a permanent deacon in 1982. In 2011, Deacon Frazier retired. In February 2014, Deacon Frazier was removed from ministry by the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee and his faculties were removed by the Rockford diocese that same month. In 2018, Deacon Frazier was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Permanent Deacons against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” Deacon Frazier’s current whereabouts and whether he has access to children are unknown.

Fr. James Gaynor 

In 2000, an allegation of child sexual abuse was made against Fr. James Gaynor. From approximately 1963 to 1965, Fr. Gaynor allegedly sexually abused a young boy while he worked at St. Rita of Cascia in Aurora, Illinois. The survivor was told by the Diocese that Fr. Gaynor had died of AIDS in 1991. It is unknown whether Fr. Gaynor had access to children prior to his death.

Msgr. Al F. Harte

From 1978 to 1980, Msgr. Al F. Harte allegedly sexually abused a student at Holy Family Catholic School in Rockford, Illinois, while he was pastor at Holy Family Parish. In 2014, Msgr. Harte was named in a child sexual abuse lawsuit.

Fr. David F. Heimann 

In May 1961, Fr. David F. Heimann was dismissed from Pontifical College Josephinum Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, after he was reportedly found to be running a sex ring involving high school boys. He was reportedly laicized in 1963. Fr. Heimann was included on the Diocese of Rockford’s list of religious order priests or priests of another diocese who were assigned in this diocese, whom an allegation of sexual abused of a minor has been reported, and whose name appears on another diocese’s list of accused. Fr. Heimann was also included on the Diocese of Columbus’ list of extern or religious clergy (clergy from other dioceses or religious orders) who served in the Diocese of Columbus who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors (alleged conduct occurred in the Diocese of Columbus), released March 5, 2019. From 1963 until his death in 2019, Fr. Hiemann’s whereabouts and whether he had access to children are unknown.

Fr. John C. Holdren

In September 2015, Fr. John C. Holdren was named in a child sexual abuse lawsuit. Fr. Holdren allegedly sexually abused a young boy, from approximately 1972 to 1973, while he worked at St. Rita of Cascia in Aurora, Illinois. In August 1994, Fr. Holdren resigned from ministry after he was injured during a home invasion in Aurora. In 2018, Fr. Holdren was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “priests against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” Fr. Holdren’s status as a priest, whereabouts, and whether he had access to children from 1995 until his death are unknown.

Fr. Joseph Jablonski, M.S.C.

Fr. Joseph Jablonski was included in Jeff Anderson & Associates’ 2018 report on clergy sexual abuse in the
Diocese of San Bernardino. Fr. Jablonski’s allegedly sexually abused a minor in 2014 and it was reported to police the same year. As a visiting priest, Fr. Jablonski had no faculties in the Diocese of San Bernardino, but he was banned from ministry in the Diocese. Fr. Jablonski was included on the Diocese of Rockford’s 2019 list of “religious order priests or priests of another diocese who were assigned in the diocese, whom an allegation of sexual abused of a minor has been reported, and whose name appears on another diocese’s list of accused.” In January 2016, Fr. Jablonski appeared in a bulletin for St. Patrick’s Parish in Joliet, Illinois. The bulletin stated Fr. Jablonski had led their parish mission retreats for the past 6 years. Fr. Jablonski was filmed presiding at St. Jude Parish in Chicago, Illinois in April 2016. Fr. Jablonski’s last known location was Aurora, Illinois. His status as a priest, current whereabouts and whether he has access to children is unknown.

Fr. William I. Joffe 

In December 1987, Fr. William I. Joffe was placed on leave after allegations arose he mismanaged parish funds at St. Joseph’s in Harvard, Illinois. In 1991, Fr. Joffe pleaded guilty to embezzling $265,000 and was sentenced to one year in prison and five years’ probation. In 1992, the Rockford diocese reassigned Fr. Joffe to St. Patrick’s in Amboy, Illinois. In 1993, Fr. Joffe was abruptly removed from ministry after the first allegation of child sexual abuse was made against him. Fr. Joffe has been accused of sexually abusing at least seven children and has been named in at least one civil lawsuit. Fr. Joffe allegedly sexually abused children while he worked at parishes in Dixon, Morrison, and Woodstock. Fr. Joffe held positions as director and co-director of religious education at Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling and Marian Central High School in Woodstock. In 2018, Fr. Joffe was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “priests against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” It is believed after the Rockford diocese removed Fr. Joffe from ministry he moved to Florida, where he resided until his death. From 1994 until his death, Fr. Joffe’s status as a priest and whether he had access to children are unknown.

Fr. Walter E. Johnson, M.M.

Fr. Walter E. Johnson, M.M. was a member of the Maryknoll religious order. During his first assignments in Hawaii, Fr. Johnson allegedly sexually abused young boys, sometimes abusing them with another alleged perpetrator, Fr. James Jackson. After leaving Hawaii, Fr. Johnson worked in the Archdiocese of Chicago for five years at St. Therese’s Catholic Chinese Parish in Chicago. Fr. Johnson then worked in Bolivian parishes for 14 years, beginning in 1963. In 1977, Fr. Johnson returned to the United States. According to the Maryknoll Mission archives, from approximately 1982 to 1988, Fr. Johnson was granted special leave to serve as the Director of the Centro San Jose in Harvard, Illinois. In 1988, Fr. Johnson returned to parochial ministry and continued his work with the Hispanic Apostolate for the Diocese of Rockford in Illinois. Fr. Johnson returned to ministry in September 1988. In 1992, Fr. Johnson moved to the Maryknoll residence in Los Altos, California. In 1993, the order again removed Fr. Johnson from ministry. In 2004, Fr. Johnson retired and moved to Mission St. Teresa’s in
Maryknoll, New York. Fr. Johnson is included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Religious Order Priests/Brothers or Priests of another diocese, who worked within the geographical boundaries of the Rockford Diocese or were assigned in this Diocese, against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.”

Fr. Augustine K. Jones, O.S.B. 

Fr. Augustine K. Jones, O.S.B., was a Benedictine priest. At least two people have accused Fr. Jones of child sexual abuse. Fr. Jones has been criminally convicted of sexually abusing a child on two occasions, once in 1968 and again in 1993. In 1993, Fr. Jones sexually abused a 15-year-old boy at St. Therese in Aurora, IL. He was subsequently sentenced to 4 years’ probation and was removed from ministry later that year. Fr. Jones was named on the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Religious Order Priests/Brothers or Priests of another diocese, who worked within the geographical boundaries of the Rockford Diocese or were assigned in this Diocese, against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.”

Fr. Peter D. Kohler, M.S. 

In 2018, Fr. Peter Kohler was included on the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Religious Order Priests/Brothers or
Priests of another diocese, who worked within the geographical boundaries of the Rockford Diocese or were assigned in this Diocese, against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” According to the Diocese of Rockford, Fr. Kohler died in 2014.

Br. Richard Kuhl, M.S.C. 

For three decades, Br. Richard Kuhl worked at the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Aurora,
Illinois. In 1996, a lawsuit was filed alleging Br. Kuhl had sexually abused two sisters. The sisters allegedly confronted Br. Kuhl the summer prior to the lawsuit being filed, and he admitted that the abuse had occurred. Following the first lawsuit, an additional four lawsuits were filed against Br. Kuhl. All five of the cases were dismissed in 2000 on statute of limitations grounds. Br. Kuhl was transferred out of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Aurora, Illinois, and eventually removed from ministry following the allegations. According to the Diocese of Rockford, Br. Kuhl died in 2009. Br. Kuhl is included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Religious Order Priests/Brothers or Priests of another diocese, who worked within the geographical boundaries of the Rockford Diocese or were assigned in this Diocese, against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported. His whereabouts, status as a religious brother, and whether he had access to children prior to his death are unknown.

Msgr. Michael Kurz

Following his ordination in 1975, Msgr. Kurz worked in the Diocese of Pueblo in Colorado for over two decades
before being incardinated into the Diocese of Rockford. Msgr. Kurtz is believed to have worked at St. Victor in Calumet City in the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1995 to 1997. In 2008, Msgr. Kurz was named in a lawsuit, alleging he sexually abused a boy attending Christ the King in Pueblo, Colorado. The abuse allegedly began in approximately 1976 and continued for a couple of years. Following the allegation, the Diocesan Review Board conducted an investigation and determined the allegation to be unfounded and false. No punitive action was taken against Msgr. Kurz. After allegations of sexual abuse arose involving Msgr. Kurz, at least two settlements were reached with two survivors. Fr. Kurz’ whereabouts, status as a priest and whether he had access to children form 2018 until his death are unknown.

Fr. Joseph Marcel Lessard

Fr. Joseph Marcel Lessard was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix in 1980. Fr. Lessard also worked in
several locations in Illinois, within the Diocese of Rockford. In 1985, Fr. Lessard was arrested and charged with sexual misconduct with a minor in Phoenix. Fr. Lessard reached a plea agreement and was sentenced to three years’ probation. In 2001, Fr. Lessard was removed from ministry by the Rockford diocese. In 2002, he was removed from active ministry by the Phoenix diocese. In 2003, Fr. Lessard was named in a child sexual abuse lawsuit which was later settled by the Phoenix diocese. In 2006, the Phoenix diocese said Fr. Lessard had moved to Thailand. In 2018, Fr. Lessard was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Religious Order Priests/Brothers or Priests of another diocese, who worked within the geographical boundaries of the Rockford Diocese or were assigned in this Diocese, against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” Fr. Lessard’s status as a priest, current whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.

Msgr. Ivan M. Rovira 

Msgr. Ivan M. Rovira, a native of Cuba, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockford on May 30, 1971. On
June 6, 1977, Msgr. Rovira was incardinated into the Diocese of Brownsville. Msgr. Rovira has been accused by at least four survivors of child sexual abuse. In 2002, Msgr. Rovira admitted he sexually abused one boy and was sent by the Brownsville diocese to a treatment center. The Brownsville diocese found the allegations to be credible and removed Msgr. Rovira from ministry. In response to his removal, Msgr. Rovira fled to Mexico. Msgr. Rovira continued to celebrate mass and worked as a professor at a Catholic university for the Diocese of Matamoros. In 2005, Msgr. Rovira allegedly resigned from his position at the Catholic university and no longer celebrates mass. In 2019, Msgr. Rovira was included in the Diocese of Brownville’s list of “Clergy with Credible Allegation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.” Msgr. Rovira’s status as a priest, current whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.

Fr. Joseph J.M. Tully

In 2018, Fr. Tully was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “priests against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” From 1972 until his death Fr. Tully’s status as a priest, whereabouts, and whether he had access to children are unknown.

Fr. William D. Virtue 

Fr. Virtue was ordained for the Diocese of Joliet in 1975. The first reports of child sexual abuse by Fr. Virtue came in 1984. By 1986, Fr. Virtue had left the Diocese of Joliet and was incardinated into the Diocese of Peoria. In 2006, a lawsuit filed against Fr. Virtue alleged that he repeatedly sexually abused a 10-year-old boy at St. Mary’s in Mokena in 1981. Fr. Virtue was subsequently removed from public ministry in the Diocese of Peoria. In 2007, Fr. Virtue was reportedly working in the Diocese of Rockford but was removed from all public ministry by 2009. Fr. Virtue was named on the Diocese of Joliet’s list of “Diocesan Priests with Credible Allegation(s) of Sexual Misconduct with Minors Made Against Them While Serving in the Diocese of Joliet” with “Credible Allegations and Canonical Process Pending,” the Diocese of Peoria’s list of “Priests Removed from Ministry Due to Abuse of Minor” and the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “Religious Order Priests/Brothers or Priests of another diocese, who worked within the geographical boundaries of the Rockford Diocese or were assigned in this Diocese, against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been
reported.” At some point, Fr. Virtue was purportedly in the process of being laicized. Fr. Virtue’s status as a priest, his whereabouts, and whether he has access to children from 2007 through the present are unknown.