ILLINOIS
Effingham Daily News
Bill Grimes
SIGEL — 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.
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