BishopAccountability.org
	Belleville Diocese Priests Ousted from Ministry Belleville News-Democrat March 7, 2003 The Belleville Diocese has removed 15 priests and one deacon since March 1993 for allegations of sexual abuse of a child or sexual misconduct. The priests could face a trial in a church court. March 5, 1993 — The Rev. Jerome Ratermann, 71, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Belleville. March 18, 1993 — The Rev. James Calhoun, deceased, former pastor at St. Boniface Church in Germantown. March 18, 1993 — The. Rev. Robert Vonnahmen, 72, former director of the diocese-sponsored Camp Ondessonk. March 30, 1993 — The Rev. David Crook, 51, pastor of St. George Church in New Baden. April 25, 1993 — The Rev. Robert Chlopecki, 55, pastor of St. Ann Church in Nashville. May 5, 1993 — Deacon Francis Theis, manager of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows gift shop, was placed on administrative leave over allegations of sexually abusing a minor. Theis is no longer listed in the diocese directory. May 9, 1993 — The Rev. Eugene Linnemann, 48, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Ruma. Sept. 13, 1993 — The Rev. Edwin Kastner, 81, pastor of St. Rose Church in St. Rose. Jan. 24, 1994 — The Rev. Louis Peterson, 55, pastor of St. Teresa Church in Belleville. Feb. 4, 1994 — The Rev. Walter MacPherson, 80, pastor of St. Martin of Tours Church in Washington Park. Dec. 6, 1994 — Monsignor Joseph Schwaegel, 66, admitted he was placed on leave from St. Peter's Cathedral in Belleville to be treated for a sexual addiction. Jan. 13, 1995 — The Rev. Raymond Kownacki, 68, a former pastor at St. Martin of Tours Church in Washington Park. Oct. 19, 1998 — The Rev. Alan Ruppert, 50, pastor of St. Clement Church in McLeansboro and St. John Nepomucene in Dahlgren, and former pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Centreville. April 2002 — The Rev. Edward Balestrieri, 71, administrator of St. Mary Parish in Sesser. If the Diocesan Review Board upholds their removal from ministry, the following priests could face trial in a church court: Sept. 20, 2002 — The Rev. Daniel L. Friedman, 57, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Aviston and formerly chaplain at Camp Ondessonk. In 1995, he became the only priest cleared by a diocesan review, but the new national abuse policy dictated his case be revisited. Oct. 21, 2002 — The Rev. William F. Rensing, 73, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Sparta.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.