Fr. James R. Steel

Ordained: 1968
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Steel left the priesthood in 5/1992 and was laicized in 3/2001. A man came forward in 2002 to allege abuse in 1982 when he was age 13 by Steel and Donald Ryniecki, a school principal at St. Joseph the Worker. In 11/2006 the Archdiocesan Review Board determined that there was reason to believe the allegations were credible. One claim was included in an 8/2008 $12.7M settlement involving 11 priests and 16 plaintiffs. Personnel file released in 1/2014. Also believed to have abused the same boy in northern WI. No criminal charges were expected to be filed in WI as of 5/1/2014, due to the statute of limitations. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.


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