Priest With Ties To Palos, Hickory Hills Parishes Accused of Sex Abuse

CHICAGO — A priest has stepped aside after an allegation of child abuse was received this week. The abuse is alleged to have happened approximately 40 years ago at St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills.

Cardinal Blase Cupich said he asked Fr. Willian Killeen to step aside pending investigation of the child abuse allegation. Killeen also denies the allegation. Cupich said he notified the eight parishes where Killeen served, including:

• St. Alexander, Palos Heights
• St. Patricia, Hickory Hills
• Infant Jesus of Prague (now St. Veronica), Flossmoor
• St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange
• St. Cletus, LaGrange
• St John of the Cross, Western Springs
• St. Michael, Orland Park

The Archdiocese said that Killeen retired in 2019. Killeen celebrates Mass occasionally at St. Francis Xavier Parish and St. Cletus Parish, both in La Grange and St. John of the Cross Parish in Western Springs. Civil authorities have been notified, the person making the allegation has been offered the services of the archdiocese’s Victim Assistance Ministry and the archdiocese has begun its investigation.