Former Infant Jesus of Prague Priest Named in Newly Released Archdiocese Sex Abuse Files

The Archdiocese of Chicago Thursday released a list of 36 priests with sex abuse allegations against them, in an effort to publicize sex abuse hidden for decades.

“We cannot change the past but we hope we can rebuild trust through honest and open dialogue,” said Francis Cardinal George, in a statement released overnight. “Child abuse is a crime and a sin.”

A former priest at Infant Jesus of Prague in Flossmoor is among the 14 priests named who served in Southland parishes at some point in their careers. John Hefferan allegedly inappropriately touched and kissed a girl in the late ‘70s, when she was 12 years old. Hefferan also served at St. Gerald’s in Oak Lawn, St. Ann in Lansing, and St. Alphonsus in Lemont. The alleged abuse took place at St. John Vianney in Northlake, Illinois.

The records are the second wave in revelation of abuse covered up for decades. The release comes after 6,000 similar documents were published in January, listing 30 abusive priests as part of a legal settlement with victims. Combined, the documents cover all the priests who have substantiated allegations of sexual misconduct with minors, with the exception of two priests where ongoing processes do not permit release, according to the Archdiocese. The new information included more than 15,000 additional records, with allegations tracing back to the early 1950s. The files only include those priests against whom substantiated claims were brought, and not those who died before the accusers came forward.

No priest with even one substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor serves in ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago today, the Archdiocese states. Ninety-two percent of the cases included in the documents occurred prior to 1988. The Archdiocese states that all of the priests involved in this document release are out of ministry. Fourteen are deceased.

Other Southland priests listed:

Kenneth Ruge, Most Holy Redeemer in Evergreen Park

Anthony Vader, Holy Name of Mary Church in Morgan Park

Gary Miller, St. Bernadette Church in Evergreen Park

William Cloutier, St. Damian in Oak Forest

The complete list can be found on the Archdiocese’s website.