South Side Priest Removed from Parish Pending Investigation Into Items Found on Computer

Photo: Rev. Octavio Munoz Capetillo | Archdiocese of Chicago 

A priest who once helped recruit Latin American men into the diocesan priesthood in Chicago has been removed from a Southwest Side parish after unspecified sexual material was allegedly found on the priest’s computer.

Chicago Archdiocese Archbishop Blase Cupich quietly removed Rev. Octavio Munoz Capetillo, pastor of St. Pancratius in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood on July 27. According to a statement posted on the Archdiocese website, Munoz’s removal stems from an investigation of “material” found on a computer in his possession.

An Archdiocesan spokesperson told ABC 7 Chicago that the items found on the priest’s computer consisted of “sexual images and material.”

The Archdiocese contends that church authorities immediately reported their concerns to the Cook County State’s Attorney and will “cooperate fully in [the] investigation.” In the meantime, Archbishop Cupich has removed Munoz’s faculties and his ministerial capacities.

An administrator will be appointed to assume Munoz’s duties at St. Pancratius and the priest will reside away from the parish until the matter is resolved.

Munoz was the associate director of Casa Jesus from 2008-2009 and as director from 2009-2015, a program of the Archdiocese that helped prepare Latin American men considering vocations in the priesthood for seminary, ABC 7 Chicago reported.

In july, Munoz was transferred to St. Pancratius, 4025 S. Sacramento Ave, in Brighton Park. The Archdiocese spokesperson also told the TV news station that Munoz’s transfer took place before church leaders learned of the questionable material.

The spokesperson did not elaborate on the sexual material that was allegedly found on the priest’s computer.