ILLINOIS
State Journal-Register

By Chris Dettro
Staff Writer
Posted Jan. 13, 2014

A preliminary investigation has found “credible” an allegation that a Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese priest sexually abused a youth while he was serving in Jacksonville more than 30 years ago.
The finding by the Diocesan Review Board sends the case of the Rev. Robert “Bud” DeGrand, 61, to the next step of the Catholic Church’s investigative process in Rome.

DeGrand will continue to be on leave from public ministry and from his church residence. When the allegation surfaced in September, DeGrand temporarily withdrew from serving Catholic parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville in east-central Illinois.

His case now goes to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for further proceedings, according to a statement from the Springfield diocese on Monday.

The diocese compared the function of the Diocesan Review Board…