Diocese of Belleville IL - BishopAccountability.org

22 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. James R. Calhoun

Ordained: 1955
Status: Sued

Permanently removed from ministry in 3/93. Died 5/26/96. Believed to have abused several youths. One man said he was forced to "lure sex partners" from a local park for Calhoun and another priest 1981-83. He a lso claimed Calhoun was part of a homosexual ring of abusive priests. Named as abuser in 7/94 civil suit. Another suit said he covered up abuse by Fr. Robert Vonnahmen. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Robert Chlopecki

Ordained: 1974
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Multiple complaints of sexual acts with boys in early 1980s. Suspended from active ministry 3/93. Accused of being part of sex ring involving Fr. James Calhoun and other priests. In original petition, name was spelled "Kolpecki." On 1/24/09 the diocesan website gave his status as "Administrative Leave." On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. David G. Crook

Ordained: 1981
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Placed on leave 3/93. Permanently removed from active ministry 1/95 over allegations of sexual misconduct with a teenager "some years ago." As of 2002, he had left the Illinois area. On 1/24/09 the diocesan website gave his status as "Administrative Leave/Retired." On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Daniel L. Friedman

Ordained: 1972
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Accused of sexual advances towards boy at summer camp in 1986. Vicar General recommended removal in 1988 but no action taken until 1994 after further investigation. He was later reinstated to parish but not to camp duties. A woman sued him in 2/02 alleging that he had fondled her during counseling sessions; suit dropped in 6/02. Removed 9/02 pending review of 1986 allegations. Again allowed to return to active ministry 4/03 after review by Fitness Review Board.

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Fr. Gerald R. Hechenberger

Ordained: 1996
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Arrested 1/08/18. Charged with possession and dissemination of child pornography, and possession of methamphetamine. Associate pastor of Holy Childhood parish and school in Mascoutah, St. Pancratius in Fayetteville and St. Liborius in St. Libory. Had taken leave in 2011 for "very serious personal, pastoral and legal challenges." In 2004 pled guilty to trespassing at a truck stop "holding his pants in his hand and [with] no shirt on." Charged in 1983 and 1989 with DUIs. It was announced 1/19 that he would undergo a psych evaluation to determine if he was mentally competent to stand trial. Pled guilty in 11/19. Sentenced to nine years in prison. On diocese's list 12/19/18. Died in jail 3/6/20.

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Fr. Edwin G. Kastner

Ordained: 1951
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Removed 9/93 pending investigation of allegation that he had been involved in sexual misconduct with male youth about 20 years prior. Charges not specified. Permanently removed from active priesthood 6/94. Per diocesan website 1/24/09, his status was "Administrative Leave/Retired." Died 5/1/12. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Raymond F. Kownacki

Ordained: 1960
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Accused in a suit filed in 3/95 of past abuse and rape of a teenage girl over several years, resulting in a pregnancy which ended in miscarriage. Kownacki was permanently removed 11/95. His accuser had reported her abuse to the bishop in 1973. The suit was dismissed on SOL. Two men filed suits in 2002 and 2003 claiming abuse in the 1970s. Jury award of $5M to 2002 plaintiff in 8/08 trial. Decision appealed. Diocese paid $6.33M (with interest)) 8/11. The 2003 suit settled in 10/09 for $1.2M. Two men sued in 4/09. Two suits settled 3/12. New suits 10/11 and 8/12. Laicized 1/11/13. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Albert E. Kreher

Ordained: 1965
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Diocese said it learned in 1997 of allegations that Kreher sexually abused a boy for one and a half years in the early 1980s, starting when the boy was age 14. Kreher admitted to regularly sleeping with the boy, but denied abuse. The boy, Steven Poole, said he told another priest in the early 1990s. Poole went on to become a priest of the diocese. Poole said Kreher slept naked, kissed, fondled, and rubbed his genitals against him. In 2010 Bishop Braxton made Kreher write Poole a letter of apology, but allowed Kreher to continue as head of Boy Scouts Council. The letter was leaked to media. The Boy Scouts removed Kreher in 2016. Police launched an investigation.

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Fr. Eugene G. Linnemann

Ordained: 1980
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Linnemann had just taken a health leave for "stress and depression" when he was removed in 5/93 from duties as pastor of St. Patrick Church in Ruma. Permanently removed from active ministry in 1/95. Per diocesan records, he sexually abused a minor more than ten years previously. On 1/24/09 the diocesan website gave his status as "Administrative Leave." Died 3/1/11. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Walter E. MacPherson

Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Removed in 2/94 from position as pastor of St. Martin of Tours in Washington Park after allegations of sexual misconduct with a boy in his early teens "more than 20 years ago." In 1/95 the Diocesan review board permanently removed him from active ministry and he retired. On 1/24/09 the diocesan website gave his status as "Administrative Leave/Retired." Died 7/16/11. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Thomas W. Miller

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1977
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Named publicly as accused by the diocese when added to its list of accused 6/17/20. Monsignor. Parish priest in Olney, O'Fallon and Anna. At time of death was also chaplain of Anna State Hospital, Shawnee Correctional Center, Vienna Correctional Center and Dixon Springs Work Camp. Died 1/6/04.

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Fr. Arthur W. Niemeyer

Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Named publicly as accused by the diocese when added to its list 6/17/20 of accused clergy. Parish priest in Belleville, Shiloh, Kinmundy, Salem and Cahokia. Director of St. John's Orphanage in Shiloh in the 1950s and '60s. Chaplain of St. Joseph Hospital in Breese 1976-88. Died 4/26/88. A former priest came forward shortly after Niemeyer was named in 2020 to say that in 1966, when he was a seminarian and volunteering at the orphanage, he and the orphanage's mother superior reported to Bishop Zuroweste suspicions that Niemeyer was sexually abusing grade-school boys. Niemeyer was transferred, and kept in ministry. The former priest said he knows that one of the boys died by suicide.

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Fr. Anthony Onyango

Donate Photo

Ordained: 2011
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Pastor of St. Bernard in Albers and St. Damian in Damiansvilee when suspended in 10/20 after an accusation of "inappropriate conduct" with a minor.

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WMIX 10.27.20

Fr. Louis P. Peterson

Ordained: 1974
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Accused of molesting a teenage boy sometime 1992-94. Stepped down voluntarily in 1/94 while investigation conducted. Permanently removed in 11/95 from active ministry by Fitness Review Board. Not enough evidence for police to prosecute. By 7/02 he had requested a "third stage review" by Bishop Gregory, who found no reason to return him to active ministry. Peterson appealed to the Vatican. On 1/24/09 the diocesan website gave his status as "Administrative Leave/Retired." On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Jerome B. Ratermann

Ordained: 1957
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Accused of abusing youths in 1960s while princicpal of a Catholic High School. First investigated in 1987. Suspended in 3/93 from position as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and then permanently barred from the ministry by review board. Denied all charges. Appealed his case to Rome in 2002 when Bishop refused to reinstate him. On 1/24/09 the diocesan website gave his status as "Administrative Leave / Retired." Suit filed 4/09 settled 3/12. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. William F. Rensing

Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Removed in 10/02 on recommendation of Review Board after accusation that he abused a minor three decades before. Accusation received in 7/02 but delayed because the man told the Diocese that he himself was under investigation for child abuse (he was later convicted). Matter referred to Rome and then returned to Diocese in 2003. On 1/24/09 the diocesan website gave his status as "Administrative Leave/Retired." Died 3/13/17. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. E. Alan Ruppert

Ordained: 1978
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Removed in 10/98 from duties as pastor of St. Clement in McLeansboro and St. John Nepomucene in Dahlgren due to an allegation he engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor in 1990. On 1/24/09 the diocesan website gave his status as "Administrative Leave/Retired." On the diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Roger Schoenhofen

Order: OMI
Ordained: 1966
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Accused in a 1995 civil suit of sexually abusing a student at St. Henry's Preparatory Seminary. Per the lawsuit, Schoenhofen was among three Belleville priests, a deacon and two O.M.I. priests who abused the plaintiff. The lawsuit claimed a ring of homosexual priests lured young men and wined and dined them in exchange for sex. Schoenhofen was assigned to the Preparatory Seminary 1967-84. He was still an active priest in Afton, IL in 2008. He died 2/25/09.

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Fr. Joseph R. Schwaegel

Ordained: 1965
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Former Vicar General. Monsignor. The "singing priest." Civil suit filed 8/99 alleging abuse of an 8-year-old boy in 1973. Refiled as federal case 2001. Some charges dismissed on SOL in 2003. Case settled 2/03. Admitted to being "a sex addict." At least two arrests for solicitation. Left ministry 1994 due to his sex addition, not his alleged abuse of minors. Other alleged victims have come forward. Testified in Kownacki trial 8/08. Diocesan website gave his status 1/24/09 as "Administrative Leave/Retired." Died 7/13/16. On diocese's list 12/19/18. Suit 7/19/19 claims abuse 1987-89 of a boy, beginning when the boy was a 6-year-old kindergartener at Cathedral Grade School.

Fr. Gary Sebescak

Ordained: 1994
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Removed from assignment as associate pastor of St. Mary's in Mount Vernon by Bishop Gregory 4/95 after an allegation that Sebescak had sexually abused a minor six years previously while at St. Meinrad Catholic Seminary. Bishop Gregory deemed the allegations credible. No criminal charges filed. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Deacon Francis Theis

Ordained: 1980
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Deacon. Removed in 1993. In 1/95 the Diocesan Review Board deemed Theis unfit to continue in the employment of the diocese. In a 1995 civil suit, Theis and four priests were named as abusers of a youth 1981-83. Name is spelled "Theiss" in original petition. The suit also alleged that Theis was part of a sex ring of priests. Died 7/13/10. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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Fr. Robert J. Vonnahmen

Ordained: 1956
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Belleville IL

Accused of abusing boys and girls, spanning most of his career. Investigated by Diocese in 1983 or '84 but no action taken. Named in civil suits in 1993, 1994 and 1995. Removed from active ministry without privileges in 1993. Laicization announced in 4/07. In 10/13 was in charge of San Damiano Shrine in southern IL and was running ads for the Shrine in the archdiocesan newspaper. Accused in new lawsuit 3/17/14 of abuse of a child at summer camp in 1970 and 1971. Died 5/8/16, at a Highland IL nursing home. On diocese's list 12/19/18.

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