Fr. William Harbert
Publicly accused in 1993 of abusing three teenage siblings – a girl and two boys- in the early to mid-1970s. They first came forward in the early 1980s. In 6/2003 a man said that in 11/1992 he told Bishop Myers he was abused by Harbert beginning at age 14 in 1972 for two years, and by Fr. Francis Engles, and that he went to a news outlet in 2/1993 after no action from Myers. The story didn’t run until 9/1993, after which the priests were removed from public ministry. They both admitted to the abuse. Harbert had been working as a nursing home chaplain. Another man said that in 10/1993 he told Myers the two priests had abused him in 1980, and another said Harbert molested him as a boy in 1969. Suit filed in 2/1004. Plaintiff claimed the Diocese knew of abuse in the 1970s. Settled in 2005. Another suit filed in 1/2007. One man said Harbert and Fr. Duane Leclercq abused him as a high school freshman in 1964, and that Harbert also abused his friends. Harbert died 4/24/2003. His name was included on the diocese’s list in 12/2018. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report. It notes 12 reported survivors, of abuse in IL and FL.
- Pantagraph 08.24.93
- Pantagraph 08.30.93
- Star-Ledger 06.13.02
- Copely News Service 02.03.04
- Pantagraph 02.04.04
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 12.11.04
- Associated Press 04.04.05
- Journal Star 04.20.05
- WJBC 01.16.07
- Northwest Herald 01.17.07
- The Southern 01.18.07
- Diocese of Peoria List 12.21.18
- News Tribune 01.15.19
- The Journal Star 06.02.23
- IL Attorney General’s Report 05.23.23
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