Fr. Salvatore Formusa

Ordained: 1935
Status: Accused

Died: 12/23/2006
Diocese: Diocese of Joliet IL

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Became a priest of the Diocese of Joliet when it was established in 1948.  Named publicly as credibly accused by the Joliet diocese on its list 4/10/2006. Retired in 1985. Removed from ministry without privileges in 2002. Died in 2006. Diocese agreed to release his personnel files in 3/2013 as part of a settlement. Files released 4/30/2014. Included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese’s list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report. It shows that Formusa admitted to the Diocese in 1962 that he had sexually abused a 9-year-old girl. Sent to WI for treatment. Police chief at the time said he knew of two prior incidents. Moved to another parish. Allegation in 5/1964 of abuse of a 15-year-old girl. Returned to ministry. Accused of abuse of a girl, age 9, in 7/1968. Criminally charged. In 1/1969 no longer allowed to hear children’s confessions. Became a psychotherapist. Accused in 1985 of abusing a woman during therapy. Settled. In 2002 another woman alleged abuse by Formusa while he was her therapist in the 1970s and she was in her 20s.

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