Fr. James R. Steel
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. Name included on the Archdiocese’s list of credibly accused. 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.
- Chicago Tribune 12.24.06
- Madill Reports – Northwestern Univ 01.16.07
- Chicago Daily Herald 01.18.07
- Chicago Tribune 08.12.08
- WBBM 08.12.08
- ABC 7 08.13.08
- Lake County News-Sun 08.13.08
- Chicago Sun-Times 08.13.08
- Chicago Tribune 08.13.08
- The Beacon 08.13.08
- Chicago Sun-Times 08.13.08
- Jeff Anderson & Assoc News Release 08.14.08
- Catholic New World 08.17.08
- Chicago Archdiocesan Report 01.14.10
- Daily Herald 01.21.14
- Personnel File Released 01.21.14
- Duluth News Tribune 01.26.14
- Spooner Advocate 05.01.14
- IL Attorney General’s Report 05.23.23
Sources:
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