GENEVA (IL)
Kane County Chronicle
April 8, 2019
Fifteen years ago, Rev. Mark Campobello pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of two girls, age 14 and 15, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Geneva and at Aurora Central Catholic High School.
The revelations caused an uproar.
Last month, 395 Catholic members of clergy, publicly accused of childhood sexual abuse, were named in a report that highlights their Illinois service histories, allegations of abuse, history of their subsequent transfers and disciplinary by both church and authorities.
The list included 13 priests who served in Kane County, including Campobello.
In the meantime, St. Peter has worked to rebuilt trust among its parishioners.
Rev. Jonathan Bakkelund, who is now the pastor of St. Peter, said when he arrived in 2016, people spoke to him about the pain of the Campobello era.
“Folks wanted to … share with me the hurt that the parish had gone through – and the healing,” Bakkelund said. “There had been several years of prayers and moving forward and staying together. It did cause some folks to leave.”
The list included 13 priests who served in Kane County, including Campobello. In the meantime, St. Peter has worked to rebuilt trust among its parishioners.
Rev. Jonathan Bakkelund, who is now the pastor of St. Peter, said when he arrived in 2016, people spoke to him about the pain of the Campobello era.
“Folks wanted to … share with me the hurt that the parish had gone through – and the healing,” Bakkelund said. “There had been several years of prayers and moving forward and staying together. It did cause some folks to leave.”
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