CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio 780) -- A third priest assigned in the early 1980s to a Catholic church in the South Austin neighborhood has been accused of sexual misconduct with children.
A spokesman for the Archdiocese calls it "a coincidence."
"A lot of times we don't know about the accusations until years and years later," Archdiocesan spokesman Jim Dwyer said. "(The assignments were) just a coincidence."
WBBM Newsradio 780's Bob Roberts reports the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said Francis Cardinal George should personally visit St. Symphorosa and the Seven Sons Church, at 6200 S. Austin Av., to take questions from parishioners and apologize for the "vagueness" of the latest announcement and what she calls a "continuing climate of secrecy."
The latest accusations involve Fr. Robert Stepek (STEP'-ik), pastor since 1998 of St. Albert the Great Church, in Burbank, and a St. Symphorosa associate pastor from 1981 until 1983.
Dwyer said that Fr. Stepek has not been suspended from the ministry, "because we don't even have preliminary information, just that there has been an allegation."
He said that Cardinal George asked, and that Fr. Stepek agreed, to step aside temporary and stay away from St. Albert the Great until the Archdiocese has more information, and until it can be investigated.
Parishioners at St. Albert the Great had planned for some time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fr. Stepek's ordination on Sunday. Instead, those attending the 10:30 a.m. Mass Sunday were told that Fr. Stepek had suddenly stepped aside.
Dwyer said no announcement has been made at St. Symphorosa or the other parishes in which Fr. Stepek has served, but that one would be made if Fr. Stepek is formally suspended.
SNAP Founder and President Barbara Blaine said the St. Albert the Great announcement should have been more specific.
"They told the parishioners that Fr. Stepek had voluntarily stepped down, that they were conducting an investigation regarding a serious matter," Blaine said. "But they did not disclose to the parishioners that he was being removed pending an investigation because of allegations of sexual abuse of children."
Dwyer said the Archdiocese acted as early in the process as possible, and has notified both the Cook County State's Attorney's office and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and bristled at Blaine's accusations of secrecy.
"We take a new step in our process so that there be no question about the protection of children," he said. "The Cardinal asked him to step down, and Fr. Stepek agreed, and that he stay away from children, and Fr. Stepek agreed. And we're still getting condemned."
Blaine and Dwyer both said they are unaware of any of sexual misconduct accusations made against Fr. Stepek until the past two weeks.
Dwyer said "everyone in the parish leadership" at St. Albert the Great was told May 16 that Fr. Stepek would be stepping aside.
In 1981, Fr. Stepek replaced one accused priest at St. Symphorosa, Fr. William O'Brien. Both served at St. Symphorosa with another accused priest, Fr. Leonard Bogdan.
Fr. Stepek is also the second priest assigned to St. Albert the Great to be accused of sexual misconduct. The first was Fr. John Curran, who served at St. Albert between 1970 and 1980.
To date, Blaine said, she has seen no evidence that the Chicago Catholic Archdiocese has "dumped" known or suspected pedophile priests into certain parishes. But she said there is ample evidence that in a number of other dioceses across the country, pedophile priests were sometimes routed into certain "marginal" parishes, as well as assignments as hospital and nursing home chaplains.
Fr. Stepek has been assigned as an associate pastor to St. Symphorosa (1981-83), to St. Christina Church, 3333 W. 110th St. (1983-91), and St. Joseph Church in Homewood (1991-98). He was named pastor at St. Albert the Great June 15, 1998.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
