Diocese of Joliet Doesn’t Deny Reinstated Priest Abused Teen

By Bob Okon
Southtown Star
September 15, 2012

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AbuseTracker/Diocese%20of%20Joliet%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20deny%20reinstated%20priest%20abused%20teen

The Diocese of Joliet is not denying that the Rev. F. Lee Ryan had inappropriate sexual relations with a minor.

But Ryan is being returned to the ministry based the Vatican’s interpretation of an obscure tenet of canon law that suggests such conduct can be tolerated if the victim was at least 16.

Except the victim says he was 14 at the time.

And he’s baffled by a decision implying that his age at the time made all the difference.

“I can only tell you that’s what they tell me, but I don’t know what that means,” said the victim, who does not want his identity revealed. “I don’t know canon law from anything. But it seems to me ludicrous and out of sync with what happened.”