Statements

Dear Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Last week, I informed you that our Independent Review Board (IRB) had found there was insufficient reason to suspect Father David Ryan had committed sexual abuse of a minor and that I was reinstating him as your pastor, effective immediately.

Dear Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Last November, I informed you of an accusation against your pastor, Father David F. Ryan, and that, in keeping with our procedures, he was asked to step aside from his pastoral duties until a thorough investigation and process could be completed. He has fully cooperated with civil authorities and the Archdiocese of Chicago during these months.

Today, the Archdiocese of Chicago distributed the following announcements on Fr. Pedro Campos, Fr. Orlando Flores Orea and Fr. René Mena Beltrán.

This is not to end in death

We know, Elizabeth and your family, that anything we say to console you at the loss of Ella falls so woefully short. We are only beginning to know Ella as you have known her over a lifetime: a woman of empathy for the sufferings of others, humble enough to know she could always improve, and generous to the point of dedicating her life to making a difference in our world. So, let our presence, the tears in our eyes, the sadness on our faces, our voices cracking with emotion and the somber solemnity of these rites through which the city embraces you, be a source of some comfort in this moment of unspeakable pain.

Saturday night, members of the Chicago Police Department’s Community Safety Team stopped a vehicle for an expired license plate. Soon after, Officer Ella French, just 29 years old, was shot and killed by one of the occupants of the civilian vehicle. Another officer was badly wounded in the exchange of gunfire and remains in critical condition. We pray for him, for his family and friends, just as we pray for Officer French and her family and friends, as they cope with the terrible reality that their loved one was taken from them in another act of senseless violence. We can only imagine their pain, as we hold them in prayer and stand with them and all first responders who risk their safety every day to protect our communities and keep the peace.

In Chicago, in the metro area, and even more widely across our nation, we face a profoundly painful moment in our life together. So many families are grieving the loss of loved ones to violence, and those loved ones include babies and small children.

Dear Members of the Faith Community of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Thank you for your patience and prayers during the absence of your Pastor Emeritus, Father Dan McCarthy. As you know, late last year the Archdiocese received allegations of child sexual abuse against Father McCarthy. In accordance with our policies for the protection of children and youth, the Archdiocese Independent Review Board, assisted by our Office of Child Abuse Investigation and Review and outside investigators conducted a thorough review of the allegations.

In accordance with Restore Illinois Phase 5 local and state guidance, the Archdiocese of Chicago will update its COVID-19 mitigation protocols as noted below effective June 11, 2021. Additional guidance specific to school-related activities, mission trips and summer camps is forthcoming and will include some exceptions to that noted below.

As usual, today’s dramatic Anderson press event mixes facts with conjecture and uses terms interchangeably that differ in important ways. The list of priests with substantiated allegations against them on the archdiocese website is accurate and complete. As it clearly states, it lists priests whose allegations were substantiated by the archdiocese. We do not say or imply that the list includes all accused priests.

Dear Members of the Faith Community of St. Sabina, Thank you for your patience and prayers during the absence of your senior pastor. Father Michael Pfleger. As you know, earlier this year the archdiocese received allegations of child sexual abuse against Father Pfleger. In accordance with our policies for the protection of children and youth, the archdiocese Independent Review Board assisted by our Office of Child Abuse Investigation and Review and outside investigators conducted a thorough review of the allegations.