A priest who served at numerous metropolis and suburban parishes has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor about 40 years in the past at Sacred Coronary heart Parish in Melrose Park, in accordance with a press release Saturday from Cardinal Blase Cupich.
The Rev. Curtis Lambert — who has “strenuously denied” the allegations — was pulled out of ministry and can chorus from all parish and faculty actions pending the conclusion of the archdiocese’s investigation. Cupich mentioned the allegations have been additionally reported to civil authorities.
“We don’t presume the reality or falsity of an allegation till the method is full and our Unbiased Evaluation Board has made a advice that I settle for,” Cupich wrote to the eight metropolis and suburban parishes the place Lambert had served. “Solely by conducting an intensive and neutral assessment can we guarantee equity to all involved. I wish to stress that the welfare of the kids entrusted to our care is our paramount concern.”
Lambert, a 78-year-old Oak Park native who served as vice chair and treasurer of the Presbyteral Council, on the sabbatical board and as a member of the Affiliation of Chicago Monks, the archdiocese mentioned.
He served as affiliate pastor of Englewood’s St. Basil from Might 1974 to November 1976; in Dunning at St. Bartholomew from November 1976 to June 1983; at Sacred Coronary heart and St. Eulalia in Melrose Park from 1983 to 1990 — when the alleged abuse is alleged to have occurred ; and Immaculate Conception and St. Michael in South Chicago from April 1991 to September 1995.
He was pastor of Our Woman of Lourdes in Uptown from September 1995 to July 2007 and St. Alphonsus Liguori in Prospect Heights till 2018. He additionally labored as an administrator at St. Thomas Becket Parish in Mount Prospect from December 2017 to June 2018, and at St. Peter Damian Catholic Church in Bartlett in 2021.
Pope Leo XIV signaled dedication to persevering with the battle towards clergy sexual abuse by appointing France’s Bishop Thibault Verny to move the Vatican’s baby safety advisory fee on Saturday.
Verny, 59, replaces American Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the retired archbishop of Boston. O’Malley was the founding president of the Pontifical Fee for the Safety of Minors, an advisory group Pope Francis established in 2014 to advise the church on greatest practices to battle abuse and shield kids.
Because the abuse scandal unfold globally throughout Francis’ 12-year hold forth, the fee initially misplaced affect and its crowning advice — the creation of a tribunal to evaluate bishops who coated up for predator clergymen — went nowhere. After a few years of reform and new members, it has turn into a spot the place victims can go to be heard and bishops can get recommendation on crafting tips to battle abuse.
Verny, who’s presently the bishop of Chambery, France, has been a member of the fee since 2022 and heads the kid safety council of the bishops convention in France, the place the church has been rocked by revelations of a long time and abuse by clergymen and bishops. He was amongst fee members who met with Leo final month.
Contributing: AP
