SPRINGFIELD (IL)
WICS [Springfield, IL]
July 29, 2026
By Geno Reynolds
A new lawsuit alleges the Catholic Archdiocese of Springfield enabled and concealed the repeated sexual abuse of a young altar boy by Father John O’Connell, who passed away 24 years ago, at St. Mary’s Catholic School and Parish in Taylorville.
Filed by Gould Grieco & Hensley PLLC in The Circuit Court of Sangamon County, the complaint alleges John Doe was sexually abused multiple times between approximately 1991 and 1994 by Fr. O’Connell at St. Mary’s Catholic School and Parish where Doe served as an altar boy and attended school.
The abuse occurred on church grounds, including during altar boy training and preparation for Mass, where, according to the lawsuit, Fr. O’Connell manipulated his position of authority to isolate the child while he was under the Church’s direct care.
“This was about power and access,” said GGH Founding Partner, Michael Grieco. “A priest took advantage of his authority to abuse a child while the Church looked the other way.”
According to the complaint, the Diocese has never publicly identified Fr. O’Connell as a priest facing allegations of child sexual abuse.
The filing describes how Church officials were aware of the risks of clergy abuse, including how abusive priests often reoffended and sought access to children — yet, they ignored this, failing to implement adequate safeguards to protect children, investigate allegations of abuse, or remove dangerous clergy from positions of trust.
According to the complaint, the Diocese:
• Allowed clergy to be alone with children without supervision
• Failed to implement safeguards to prevent abuse
• Failed to report misconduct to authorities
“Parents place an extraordinary amount of trust in their church and religious leaders,” said GGH Attorney, Georgia Booth. “Here, that trust was violated in the most devastating way possible. Institutions that fail to protect children must be held accountable.”
The case comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Catholic Church in Illinois. A 2023 Illinois Attorney General investigation found almost 700 priests in the state had been accused of sexual misconduct — far more than the Church previously disclosed. The lawsuit alleges the Diocese of Springfield was among those that failed to fully investigate abuse or take meaningful steps to protect children, contributing to a broader pattern of institutional systemic failure.
According to the complaint, Doe continues to live with the emotional, psychological, and spiritual consequences of what was done to him as a child — harm that has followed him into adulthood and shapes his daily life. The lawsuit describes his lasting trauma, loss of trust, and a profound loss of faith.
The lawsuit seeks to hold the Diocese accountable for what it alleges was a failure to protect a child entrusted to its care and to prevent similar harm from happening to others.
“This is something he has to carry with him every day,” said GGH Founding Partner, Michael Grieco. “You can’t undo what was done, but you can demand accountability for how it was allowed to happen.”
The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has released an official statement:
“The diocese does not comment on pending litigation. We encourage individuals to report allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy, even if it’s in the past, by calling the Diocesan Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation number at 217-321-1155, calling the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE, and contacting their local police authority. Our diocese has a Victim Assistance Coordinator ready to help anyone who has been victimized.”