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Priest Abuse In Illinois

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The Roman Catholic dioceses in Illinois face allegations of clergy abuse. Survivors of abuse continue to file lawsuits and win settlements against the diocese. Child sexual abuse survivors also allege a cover-up. They claim the church hid abuse to protect the church’s reputation as well.

Were You Abused by a Clergy Member in Illinois?

You May Have Rights to Legal Compensation

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Home › Catholic Church Sex Abuse › Priest Abuse In Illinois

The Roman Catholic dioceses in Illinois face allegations of clergy abuse. Survivors of abuse continue to file lawsuits and win settlements against the diocese. Child sexual abuse survivors also allege a cover-up. They claim the church hid abuse to protect the church’s reputation as well.

Were You Abused by a Clergy Member in Illinois?

You May Have Rights to Legal Compensation

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Illinois Clergy Abuse Lawsuits

Nationwide, survivors have filed clergy abuse lawsuits against Catholic priests accused of abuse and dioceses that covered up the abuse. The dioceses of Illinois have faced numerous lawsuits over accusations of sexual abuse.

One example occurred in October 2018. Three men and one woman filed a lawsuit against the Illinois dioceses. The lawsuit alleged abuse incidents in the dioceses of Rockford, Peoria and Springfield. But the lawsuit names all the dioceses in the state, citing their role in covering up abuse. 

Clergy Abuse Settlements In Illinois

The Illinois dioceses have paid millions in settlements to abuse survivors. The Chicago Archdiocese alone has paid more than $200 million to settle abuse claims. Archdiocesan officials believe the archdiocese may end up paying more than $150 million to settle future claims.

YearDioceseSettlementVictims
2003Chicago$1,900,0001
2003Chicago$4,000,0004
2003Chicago$8,000,00015
2007Rockford$2,200,0002
2007Chicago$6,650,00015
2008Chicago$12,600,00016
2008Belleville$5,000,0001
2008Chicago$2,500,0001
2008Chicago$1,700,0001
2009Chicago$3,900,0006
2009Belleville$1,200,0001
2013Peoria$1,350,0001
2015Chicago$1,250,0001
2017Chicago$3,150,0003
2018Joliet$1,400,0003
2020Chicago$1,500,0001
2020Chicago$2,100,0001
2022Chicago$1,200,0001
2022Chicago$1,750,0001
2024Chicago$950,0001

Illinois Child Sex Abuse Statutes Of Limitations

States have statutes of limitations that set specific deadlines to file legal actions. Any legal action against an abuser or a responsible organization must follow these statutes.

Most states have different statutes for filing civil lawsuits and pressing criminal charges.

Civil Statutes For Child Sex Abuse In IL

As of 2014, there is no statute of limitations for civil claims of child sexual abuse in the state of Illinois. 

However, the law that eliminated the former statute was not retroactive. Survivors with decades-old cases may still be time-barred. An experienced attorney can help determine if your case is eligible for legal action.

You May Have Legal Rights

Speak With Our Lawyers About Illinois’ Statutes Today

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Criminal Statutes For Child Sex Abuse In IL

In Illinois, there is no criminal statute of limitations for felony or misdemeanor sexual offenses committed against a minor.

List Of Accused Priests In Illinois

Below is a list of priests accused of abuse in Illinois, such as the former Jesuit priest Donald J. McGuire. The list also includes other diocesan clergy members facing credible allegations. 

This list does not include administrative staff or volunteers accused of similar allegations. You may still be able to file a legal claim against the responsible diocese for abuse committed by these individuals.

If you or a loved one was victimized by a clergy member in Illinois, you may have legal rights.

Survivors May Be Eligible For Compensation

Learn About Filing a Lawsuit in Illinois

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There Are 164 Accused Clergy Members From The Archdiocese Of Chicago, IL:

If you are unable to find the name of a credibly accused priest on our Illinois list, consider searching our nationwide database of accused priests and clergy members. The Catholic clergy member you are looking for may be listed in another state, as abusive priests were often moved from one diocese to another.

If your abuser is not listed in our database, you may still have options to file a lawsuit. Speak with our experienced lawyers today to learn more about your legal options.

History Of Clergy Abuse In Illinois

All six Catholic dioceses in Illinois have faced clergy abuse allegations and lawsuits. Apart from the abuse itself, survivors have also accused the dioceses of covering up abuse. In fact, a 2018 report by the Illinois attorney general may support these claims. The report noted the Roman Catholic Church in Illinois failed to investigate many allegations of abuse.

Illinois Priest Abuse Report

In late 2018, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan began an investigation into reported clergy abuse. The preliminary report noted accusations against nearly 690 clergy members. At the time, the dioceses only reported 185. 

By 2023, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a final report. This report detailed the breadth of clergy abuse in the state. It noted 1,997 people had made allegations, naming 451 members of the Illinois clergy the dioceses never disclosed.

“By choosing not to thoroughly investigate allegations, the Catholic Church has failed in its moral obligation to provide survivors, parishioners and the public a complete and accurate accounting of all sexually inappropriate behavior involving priests in Illinois.”

Lisa Madigan, Former Illinois Attorney GeneralUSA Today

Illinois Priest Abuse Victim Resources

If you were sexually abused by a priest or clergy member in the state of Illinois, you are not alone. You do not need to process the trauma of sexual violence on your own. 

There are statewide and local resources available to abuse survivors in Illinois. Find an Illinois crisis center near you here. 

Also, many survivors find comfort when they take legal action against their abuser or the responsible organization. Speak with one of our attorneys today to learn more about your options.

Why You Should Hire An Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney

Clergy abuse cases are often complex and can resurface terrible memories. Lawyers with experience in clergy abuse handle these cases with care and sensitivity. They understand how serious these crimes are and want to help their clients find justice.

Our legal partners, The Meneo Law Group, can help you build a strong assault case against the Illinois dioceses. With more than 30 years of litigation experience, they will fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.

Illinois Priest Abuse FAQs

What Is The Statute Of Limitations On Priest Sexual Abuse In Illinois?

In Illinois, there is no civil or criminal statute of limitations for cases of child sexual abuse. However, some older cases may still be time-barred. 

Learn more about Illinois child sexual abuse statutes here >

How Do I Report Clergy Sex Abuse In Illinois?

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If you or a suspected victim is in danger, call 911 immediately.

To report suspected child abuse, including incidents of child sexual abuse, to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), call the department’s 24-hour hotline at 800-25-ABUSE (22873).

For more information about reporting child sexual abuse or sexual assault, visit our reporting page. 

After you report suspected clergy abuse to the police or DCFS, consider reporting the incident to the relevant diocese.

  • Report Abuse To The Chicago Archdiocese

    Nelly Bonilla | Director of Child Abuse Investigations and Review

    Phone: 312-534-5205

    Phone: 1-800-994-6200

    Email: nbonilla@archchicago.org

  • Report Abuse To The Belleville Diocese

    Report allegations against a clergy member to:

    Diocesan Review Board Administrator

    Phone: 1-800-640-3044

    Report all other allegations to:

    Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator

    Phone: 618-212-1201

  • Report Abuse To The Joliet Diocese

    Victim Assistance Coordinator

    Phone: 1-815-263-6467

  • Report Abuse To The Peoria Diocese

    Victim Assistance Hotline

    Phone: 309-677-7082

  • Report Abuse To The Rockford Diocese

    Victim Abuse Hotline

    Phone: 815-293-7540

    Email: ReportSexualAbuse@rockforddiocese.org

  • Report Abuse To The Springfield Diocese

    Child Abuse Reporting & Investigation Number 

    Phone: 413-452-0624

    Phone: 1-800-842-9055

    Email: reportabuse@diospringfield.org

     

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Ron Meneo, Managing Partner at Meneo Law Group.

Meneo Group managing partner: Ron Meneo

Ron Meneo is the managing partner of The Meneo Law Group. With more than 40 years of experience, he represents clients across the country on a variety of complex legal matters, including personal injury due to institutional sexual abuse, unsafe pharmaceutical drugs and other practice areas. He is a recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s prestigious AV® Preeminent Rating. He has also served as an editor and contributor for several legal journals.

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