Fr. William D. Virtue
Ordained in 1975 for the Diocese of Joliet. Left Joliet and was incardinated into the Peoria diocese in 1988. Also worked in the Diocese of Rockford. Accused in 2006 of abuse in the Joliet diocese in 1980-1981. A civil suit was filed in 5/2006. Joliet settled the lawsuit as of 9/2007. Privileges were removed by the Peoria diocese in 2006. The Joliet diocese agreed to release personnel files in 3/2013 as part of a settlement in Rudofski v Joliet & Bennett. The files were released 4/30/2014. A canonical process was pending 4/2014. Virtue’s name was included on the Rockford diocese’s list 11/14/2018, which noted that he was removed from ministry by Peoria and Rockford in 2/2006. Per Joliet’s list updated in 12/2018, Virtue was “on leave,” a canonical process still pending. Included on the Peoria diocese’s list as of 2/2020. Mentioned in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General’s Report. Added to the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s list in 12/2024; Virtue taught at Mount St. Mary University 2000-2002.
- Pantagraph 02.24.06
- The Herald News 04.11.06
- CBS2 Chicago 05.24.06
- Chicago Tribune 05.25.06
- Herald News 05.25.06
- Daily Herald 09.25.07
- Daily Southtown (AP) 09.26.07
- Diocese of Joliet List of Priests with Credible Allegations 03.12.13
- My Suburban Life 03.12.13
- Statement by the Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet 03.12.13
- WGN 03.12.13
- Chicago Tribune 04.07.13
- WLS 04.30.14
- SNAP Statement 04.30.14
- Joliet Patch 04.30.14
- Virtue Personnel Files from David Rudofski Archives 04.30.14
- Anderson Advocates Timeline 04.30.14
- Diocese of Joliet List of Priests with Credible Allegations 04.30.14
- Daily Journal 05.01.14
- Diocese of Rockford List 11.14.18
- Diocese of Joliet List Updated 12.06.18
- News Tribune 01.15.19
- Diocese of Peoria List 01.28.20
- MD Attorney General’s Report 04.05.23
- Archdiocese of Baltimore List 12.27.24
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