29 Central Illinois priests accused of sexual abuse by law firm

Posted on March 20, 2019
The law firm held a press conference in Chicago to announce the 185-page report that lists the names of every Catholic priest and lay person in Illinois who has been publicly accused of sexual misconduct. (Photo Pixabay)

 

By Neil Doyle and WMBD-TV

CHICAGO – A law firm Wednesday released a list of 29 Central Illinois priests accused of sexual abuse. The priests served in the Catholic Diocese of Peoria which includes McLean County.

The law firm Jeff Anderson and Associates held a news conference in Chicago to announce the 185-page report that lists the names of every Catholic priest and lay person in Illinois who has been publicly accused of sexual misconduct.

The report identifies: Fr. John C. Anderson, Msgr. Charles J. Beebe, Fr. Walter A. Breuning, Fr. Edward E. Bush, Fr. Terry Cassidy, Fr. Louis M. Condon, Fr. Robert J. Creager, Fr. Francis Engels, Msgr. Norman D. Goodman, Fr. William Harbert, Fr. George H. Hiland, Fr. William Iserman, Fr. Duane Leclercq, Fr. Thomas W. Maloney, Fr. Frank R. Martinez, Jr., Fr. Thomas R. Miller, Fr. John M. Onderko, Fr. Toussaint J. Perron, W.F, Fr. Gordon J. Pillon, Fr. Jerry (Jerome) R. Pilon, Fr. Gregory J. Plunkett, Fr. Samuel D. Pusateri, Fr. Kenneth J. Roberts, Fr. Ronald W. Roth, Fr. Richard Slavish, Fr. Bernard (B.J.) Tomaszewski, Fr. John B. Turnbull, Fr. Michael R. Van Acker and Fr. William D. Virtue as those who allegedly sexually assaulted children.

Of the 29 listed, 22 have already been “credibly accused” by the Diocese.

The report goes into detail regarding when they were involved with the diocese and their assignments. It also provides backstories about each of the allegations.

The report also accuses Religious Clergy and Lay Persons in Illinois, with eight priests or laypersons within the Peoria diocese listed.

The attorneys have represented clergy abuse victims across the United States.

The Diocese of Peoria was established in 1887. There are approximately 197 priests currently in the diocese.

A link to the report is here.

The Peoria Diocese response is here.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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