Statements

Dear Parishioners of Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Thank you for your patience and prayers during the absence of your Associate Pastor, Father Paul Guzman. As I recently informed you, the Archdiocese received an allegation of child sexual abuse against Father Guzman dating back to a time long before he was ordained a priest. 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 allegation.

Dear Most Holy Redeemer Parish and School Family, I write to share some difficult news about your associate pastor, Father Paul Guzman. While Father Guzman was overseas on military duty, the Archdiocese received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor from approximately 40 years ago when he was a layman, and 25 years before he entered Mundelein Seminary to prepare for the priesthood. In keeping with our child protection policies, I directed Father Guzman to step aside from ministry immediately and to live away from Most Holy Redeemer Parish when he returned from his military service. He agreed to cooperate with this direction.

The Archdiocese of Chicago is not granting a general dispensation for the Memorial of St. Patrick from the obligation to abstain from meat on Fridays in Lent. Instead, Catholics who find themselves at an event where meat is served in celebrating St. Patrick may in good conscience substitute the general rule of abstinence with another form of penance or a significant act of charity that benefits the poor.

Dear Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Last September, I informed you of new allegations the Archdiocese of Chicago received, accusing Fr. David F. Ryan of sexually abusing a minor. In keeping with our procedures, he once again 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.

Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council, Each year at the Archdiocese of Chicago we work through our parishes and Catholic Charities to help hundreds of thousands of people in need of all faiths and none. This mission of charity is paramount to our faith and of critical importance as pandemic and inflation-related challenges increase the burdens on our neighbors. As written, the proposed Human Service Workforce Advancement Ordinance puts that mission and those we serve in peril.

Today we join Pope Francis and Catholics across the world in mourning the death of Pope Benedict XVI who has gone home to the God he served faithfully.

We have read with great concern the reports of Pope Benedict XVI’s declining health.

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.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, In so many ways—large and small—the pandemic has upended our lives together. Families and, in a special way, young people, have faced distressing struggles. The pandemic made our connections with one another challenging and difficult. Exactly in that moment when we truly needed supportive relationships with one another, we found ourselves separated. Sadly, this included the relationships and connections that we have in and through the Church.

In calling for a synod on synodality, Pope Francis has summoned the entire church and all her members to engage in a process of prayer, encounter, and deep listening to each other.