Complete list of accused clergy in Belleville Diocese with new details from state report

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office recently released a 696-page report on child sex abuse by Catholic clergy, providing information on all six dioceses in the state.

Below is a complete list of the 43 priests and deacons listed in the report with “substantiated” allegations who served in the 28 counties in southern Illinois covered by the Catholic Diocese of Belleville.

The first 21 were once part of the Belleville Diocese. The other 22 came from religious orders or other dioceses to work temporarily in parishes, schools, hospitals and programs in southern Illinois.

Names of the accused already had been reported by the BND and the diocese, along with some facts of their cases. Other information is being released publicly for the first time.

The public now knows more about clergy assignments, the number of children believed to have been victimized, when and where the abuse allegedly occurred and, in some cases, when internal diocese records show that church leaders first learned of allegations before taking action.

Diocesan clergy

Edward Balestrieri

Priest; ordained in 1959; Trinitarians; joined Belleville Diocese in 1979; Illinois assignments at St. Joseph in Marion (1978-1981), St. Joseph in Cobden (1983-1987), Immaculate Conception in Shawneetown and St. Patrick in Pond Settlement (1987-1989), St. Mary Magdalene in Todd’s Mill (1989-1994), St. Paul in Vienna and St. Francis de Sales in Stonefort (1995-1999) and St. Mary in Sesser (1999-2022); one known victim; abuse occurred in Monmouth County, New Jersey (1975-1976); diocesan claim of first allegation in 2002; removed from ministry in 2002; retired in 2005; died in 2012; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Paul J. Bruening

Priest; ordained in 1954 (listed as 1965 in Belleville records); Sioux City (Iowa) Diocese before Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Rose of Lima in Metropolis and St. Paul in Vienna (1970-1975) and St. Ann in Nashville (1975-1978); one known victim; abuse in Sioux City Diocese (1957); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 1978; placed on public list by Sioux City Diocese in 2019 and Belleville Diocese in 2022.

James R. Calhoun

Priest; ordained in 1955; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Bruno in Pinckneyville, St. Luke in Belleville, St. Peter in Belleville, St. Catherine in Grand Chain, Our Lady of Fatima in Ullin, Our Lady of Lourdes in Sparta, St. Anthony in Coulterville, Blessed Sacrament in Belleville and St. Boniface in Germantown (dates not provided); nine known victims; abuse occurred in unknown locations (1956-1960), St. Clair County (1979-1983) and St. Clair and Pottawattamie counties (1981-1983); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1993; removed from ministry in 1993; died in 1996; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Robert Chlopecki

Priest; ordained in 1974; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Herrin (1974), St. Albert in Fairview Heights (1975), St. Stephen in Caseyville (1977-1978), Our Lady of Good Counsel in Renault (1978-1979), St. Aloysius-Sacred Heart in Royalton-Ziegler (1979-1982), St. Mary in Mound City, St. Catherine in Grand Chain and Our Lady of Fatima in Ullin (1982-1987) and St. Ann in Nashville (1987-1993); two known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1980-1981); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1993; removed from ministry in 1993; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

David Crook

Priest; ordained in 1981; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Herrin and Holy Spirit in Carterville (1981-1982), St. Teresa of the Child Jesus (Little Flower) in Belleville (1982-1983), St. Mary in Mt. Vernon (1984-1985 and 1986-1987), St. Rose in Metropolis (1987), St. Philip in East St. Louis (1987-1989) and St. George in New Baden (1990-1994); two known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1981-1983); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1993; removed from ministry in 1993; resigned in 1994; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Gerald “Jerry” Robert Hechenberger

Priest; ordained in 1996; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Joseph in Olney and St. Joseph in Stringtown (1996-1997), St. Sebastian in Fairfield (1997-1999), Holy Family in Cahokia and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Dupo (1999-2006), St. John the Baptist in Smithton (2006-2011) and Holy Childhood of Jesus in St. Libory (2014-2018); one known victim; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (date unknown); diocesan claim of first allegation in 2018; removed from ministry in 2018; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018; pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and methamphetamine in 2019; died in prison in 2020.

Edwin G. Kastner

Priest; ordained in 1951; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at Blessed Sacrament in Belleville (1951-1956), St. Clare in O’Fallon (1956-1959), St. Barbara in Okawville (1959-1961), St. Elizabeth in Ava, St. Ann in Raddle and St. Joseph in Willisville (1961-1963), St. Mary in Mound City (1963-1965), St. Joseph in Lebanon (1965-1982), St. Mary in Valmeyer (1982-1985) and St. Rose in St. Rose (1985-1993); two known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1956-1959) and Washington County (1964-1969); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1992; removed from ministry in 1993; retired in 1995; died in 2012; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Raymond F. Kownacki

Priest; ordained in 1960; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Adalbert in East St. Louis (1960), St. Clare in O’Fallon (1960-1967), St. Joseph in Freeburg (1964), St. Francis Xavier in St. Francisville (1970-1971), St. Martin of Tours in Washington Park (1971-1973), St. Teresa of Avila in Salem and St. Philomena in Kinmundy (1973-1982), St. Joseph in Cobden (1982-1983), St. Mary in Harrisburg (1983-1984) and St. Patrick in Tipton, Immaculate Conception in Madonnaville and St. Mary in Valmeyer (1985-1987); nine known victims; abuse occurred in Lawrence County (1970-1973), St. Clair County (1970-1973), Marion County (1973-1982 and unknown date) and Monroe County (1985-1987); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1972; removed from ministry in 1995; laicized in 2013; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018; died in 2022.

Eugene G. Linnemann

Priest; ordained in 1980; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at Blessed Sacrament in Belleville, St. Albert the Great in Fairview Heights, St. Patrick in Ruma and St. Leo in Modoc (dates not provided); one known victim; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1979-1983); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1993; removed from ministry in 1993; died in 2011; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Walter E. MacPherson

Priest; ordained in 1955; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Martin of Tours in Washington Park, St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher and St. Michael in Paderborn (dates not provided); four known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1963-1974); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1993; removed from ministry in 1994; died in 2011; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Thomas W. Miller

Priest; ordained in 1977; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Joseph in Olney (1977-1980), St. Clare in O’Fallon (1980-1982) and St. Mary in Anna (1982); one known victim; no information on date or location of abuse; no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 2004; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Arthur “Art” W. Niemeyer

Priest; ordained in 1949; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Peter in Belleville (1949), St. Luke in Belleville (1949-1950), St. Theresa of Avila in Salem and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Kinmundy (1966-1971) and Holy Family in Cahokia (1971-1973); four known victims; abuse occurred at unknown location (1979), Clinton County (1977), St. Clair County (1979-1983) and unknown location (1987); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1987; died in 1988; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Anthony O. Onyango

Priest; ordained in 2011; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Stephen in Caseyville (2011-2013), Holy Trinity in Fairview Heights, St. Teresa in Belleville and St. Luke in Belleville (2013), St. Damian in Damiansville (2016-2019) and St. Bernard in Albers (2016-2019); one known victim; no information on date or location of abuse; diocesan claim of first allegation in 2020; removed from ministry in 2020; laicized in 2022; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2022.

Louis P. Peterson

Priest; ordained in 1974; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Augustine of Canterbury in Belleville, St. Mary in Belleville, St. Edward in Fairfield, St. Sebastian in Mt. Carmel, Holy Family in Cahokia and St. Teresa of the Child Jesus in Belleville (dates not provided); two known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1991-1993); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1993; removed from ministry in 1994; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Jerome B. Ratermann

Priest; ordained in 1957; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at Immaculate Conception in Centreville (1957-1958), St. Henry in East St. Louis (1958-1960), St. Henry in Belleville (1960-1961), St. John in West Frankfort (1968), St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher (1968-1971), Ss. Peter and Paul in Waterloo (1971-1985) and Blessed Sacrament in Belleville (1985-1993); seven known victims; abuse occurred in Clinton County (1968-1969), Randolph County (1968-1970) and Williamson County (1974-1976); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1986; removed from ministry in 1993; resigned in 1993; retired in 1996; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

William F. Rensing

Priest; ordained in 1955; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville, St. Pancratius in Fayetteville, Our Lady of the Assumption in Fairview Heights and Our Lady of Lourdes in Sparta (no dates provided); two known victims; abuse occurred in Franklin County (1971); diocesan claim of first allegation in 2002; removed from ministry in 2002; died in 2017; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

E. Alan Ruppert

Priest; ordained in 1978; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Mary in Mt. Carmel (1978-1979), St. Teresa of the Child Jesus in Belleville (1979-1982), St. Dominic in Breese (1982-1984), St. Philip in Centreville (1984), Immaculate Conception in Centreville (1984-1985), St. Philip in East St. Louis (1990) and Holy Rosary in Fairmount City (1993); two known victims; abuse occurred at unknown location (1977-1979) and St. Clair County (1990); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1992; removed from ministry in 1998; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Joseph R. Schwaegel

Priest elevated to monsignor; ordained in 1965; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at St. Mary in Trenton (1965-1966), St. Bernard in Albers (1966), St. Mary in Belleville (1984) and Cathedral of St. Peter (1988-1993); two known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1972 and 1974-1988); removed from ministry in 1994; diocesan claim of first allegation in 1999; died in 2016; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Gary Sebescak

Priest; ordained in 1994; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignment at St. Mary in Mt. Vernon (1994); one known victim; abuse in Spencer County, Indiana (1989); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1995; removed from ministry in 1995; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Francis Theis

Deacon; ordained in 1980; Illinois assignment at St. Augustine in Canterbury (dates not provided); three known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1956-1960 and 1979-1983) and St. Clair and Pottawattamie counties (1981); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1993; removed from ministry in 1993; died in 2010; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Robert J. Vonnahmen

Priest; ordained in 1956; Belleville Diocese; Illinois assignments at Saint Patrick in East St. Louis (1956), St. Philip in East St. Louis (1956-1964), Camp Ondessonk in Ozark (1958-1984) and St. Joseph in Elizabethtown (1964-1982 and 1984-1993); 23 known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair and Johnson counties (1956 and 1962-1969), Spencer County, Indiana (1959-1960), St. Clair County (1961), Johnson County (1966-67), the Bahamas (1970), Johnson County (1971-1972, 1977-1982, 1984 and unknown dates) and unknown location (1983-1985); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1992; removed from ministry in 1993; laicized in 2007; died in 2016; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2018.

Non-diocesan clergy

Real “Ray” Bourque

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1954; Illinois assignments not reported; one known victim; date and location of abuse unknown; no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 2014; placed on public list by Belleville Diocese in 2021.

Michael Charland

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1971; Illinois assignments not reported; one known victim; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1970s); laicized in 1989; died in 2004; diocesan claim of first allegation in 2008; placed on public lists by Oblates, Central Province, in 2015, Duluth (Minnesota) Diocese in 2015, St. Paul-Minneapolis (Minnesota) Archdiocese in 2018, Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Missouri) Diocese in 2019, Belleville Diocese in 2020 and Superior (Wisconsin) Diocese in 2022.

Donald J. Dummer

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1964; Illinois assignments not reported; one known victim; abuse occurred at St. Mary in St. Paul, Minnesota (1997); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; removed from ministry in 2006; placed on public lists by St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese in 2014, Belleville Diocese in 2022 and Crookston (Minnesota) Diocese on unknown date.

James Vincent Fitzgerald

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1950; Illinois assignments not reported; one known victim; abuse occurred somewhere in Minnesota and South Dakota (1960s-1980s); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 2009; placed on public lists by Duluth (Minnesota) Diocese in 2013, Oblates, Central Province, in 2015, New Ulm (Minnesota) Diocese in 2016, Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Missouri) Diocese in 2019 and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Eugene T. Fitzsimmons

Society of Mary or Marianists; ordained in 1947; Illinois assignment at Assumption High School in East St. Louis (dates not provided); one known victim; date and location of abuse unknown; no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; withdrew from order in 2000; died in 2011; placed on public lists by Marinists and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Chester E. Gaiter

Jesuits (Society of Jesus); entered religious order in 1962; ordained in 1971; Illinois assignment at St. Joseph Parish in East St. Louis (dates not provided); one known victim; abuse occurred at unknown location (1970s or 1980s); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; retired in 1993 or 1994; died in 2010; placed on public lists by Jesuits, Central and Southern provinces, in 2018 and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Paul Kabat

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1958; incardinated into Baltimore (Maryland) Archdiocese in 1988; Illinois assignments not reported; one known victim; date and location of abuse unknown; no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; placed on public lists by Oblates, Central Province, and Duluth (Minnesota) Diocese in 2015, St. Paul-Minneapolis (Minnesota) Archdiocese in 2017, Belleville Diocese in 2020 and Crookston (Minnesota) Diocese on unknown date.

Frederick A. Lenzczycki

Joliet Diocese; ordained in 1972; Illinois assignment at Ss. Peter and Paul in Naperville (1972-75), St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Romeoville (1975-80), St. Isaac Jogues in Hinsdale (1980-1984), St. Mary in Beaverville (1984) and Pastoral Center in Belleville (1991-1992, unverified by Belleville Diocese); 18 known victims; abuse occurred in Will County (1962), St. Isaac Jogues (1978-1984), St. Charles Borromeo (1979-1980), DuPage County (1984), St. Peter in Pacifica, California (unknown date), San Francisco Archdiocese (1989-1991) and St. Louis (1992-1999); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; removed from ministry in 2002; pleaded guilty to abuse charges in 2004 and 2019; committed for “sexual violence” in 2008; laicized in 2016; placed on public lists of Joliet Diocese in 2006 and St. Louis Archdiocese in 2019; now in prison.

Larry N. Lorenzoni

Salesians Don Bosco; ordained in 1951; Illinois assignment at St. Francis Xavier in Carbondale (1967-1968); one known victim; abuse occurred at unknown location (1957-1958); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; retired in 2005; died in 2017; placed on public lists by Los Angeles Archdiocese in 2004 and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Patrick J. McNulty

Society of Mary or Marianists; ordained in 1966; Illinois assignment at Cathedral High School in Belleville (dates not provided); one known victim; abuse occurred at unknown location (1970s); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 1984; placed on public lists by San Antonio (Texas) Archdiocese in 2019 and Marianists and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Louis J. Meinhardt

Society of Mary or Marianists; not ordained; entered religious order in 1923; Illinois assignments at Assumption High School in East St. Louis and Spalding Institute in Peoria (dates not provided); one known victim; date and location of abuse unknown; no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 1990; placed on public lists by Marianists and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Thomas Gregory Meyer

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1970; Illinois assignment at Ss. Peter and Paul in Alton (1990-1998); one known victim; abuse occurred at unknown location (1969-1970); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 2012; placed on public lists by Oblates, Central Province, and Duluth (Minnesota) Diocese in 2015, St. Paul-Minneapolis (Minnesota) Archdiocese in 2017, Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Missouri) Diocese in 2019 and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Orville Lawrence Munie

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1937; Illinois assignments at St. Isidore in Bethany and Sacred Heart in Dalton City (1981-1983); one known victim; abuse occurred at unknown location (1971-1975); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 1993; placed on public lists by Oblates, Central Province, in 2015, St. Paul-Minneapolis (Minnesota) Archdiocese in 2017, Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Missouri) Diocese and Peoria Diocese in 2019 and LaCrosse (Wisconsin) Diocese and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Gavin O’Connor

Bridgeport (Connecticut) Diocese; ordained in 1977; Illinois assignments not reported; two known victims; date and location of abuse unknown; no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; left active ministry in 1984; removed from ministry and laicized in 1989; placed on public lists by Bridgeport Diocese in 2019 and Belleville Diocese in 2021.

Anthony J. Pistone

Society of Mary or Marianists; not ordained; entered religious order in 1953; Illinois assignment at Cathedral High School in Belleville (dates not provided); one known victim; date and location of abuse unknown; no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; removed from ministry in 2005; died in 2017; placed on public lists by Fort Worth (Texas) Diocese in 2018 and Marianists and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Raymond A. Prybis

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1967; Illinois assignments not reported; one known victim; abuse occurred in Massachusetts (date unknown); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; placed on public lists by Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) Diocese and St. Paul-Minneapolis (Minnesota) Archdiocese in 2018 and Belleville Diocese in 2022; current status unknown.

Thomas P. Purcell

Society of Mary or Marianists; entered religious order in 1959; ordained in 1972; Fresno (California) Diocese; Illinois assignment at Assumption High School in East St. Louis (dates not provided); one known victim; abuse occurred in Tuscon, Arizona (1982-1983); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; withdrew from religious order in 1990; suspended from ministry in 1996; convicted of abusing 13-year-old in Arizona and sentenced to prison; placed on public lists by Tuscon Diocese in 2011, Marianists, Belleville Diocese and Stockton (California) Diocese in 2020 and Fresno Diocese in 2021.

Kenneth Roberts

Dallas (Texas) Diocese; ordained in 1966; Illinois assignments not reported; three known victims; abuse occurred in LaSalle County (1980s) and St. Clair County (1984); retired in 1995; removed from ministry in 1998; diocesan claim of first allegation in 2006; died in 2018; placed on public lists in Dallas Diocese, Peoria Diocese and St. Louis Archdiocese in 2019 and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Francis A. Skube

Secular Franciscans (Order of St. Francis); not ordained; Illinois assignments not reported; three known victims; abuse occurred in St. Clair County (1964); diocesan claim of first allegation in 1993; placed on public lists by Davenport (Iowa) Diocese in 2008 and Belleville Diocese in 2020; current status unknown.

Emil Twardochleb

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1923; Illinois assignments not reported; one known victim; abuse occurred at unknown location (1971-1975); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; died in 1976; placed on public lists by Oblates, Central Province, in 2015, St. Paul-Mineapolis (Minnesota) Archdiocese in 2017, Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Missouri) Diocese in 2019 and Belleville Diocese in 2020.

Gerard “Gerry” Weber

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained in 1962; Illinois assignments not reported; one known victim; date and location of abuse unknown; no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; removed from ministry in 2011; placed on public lists by Galveston-Houston (Texas) Archdiocese in 2019 and Belleville Diocese in 2022.

John Wielebski

Trinitarians; ordained in 1978; incardinated into Baltimore (Maryland) Archdiocese in 1988; Illinois assignments not reported; three known victims; abuse occurred at unknown location (mid- to late 1980s); no information on diocesan claim of first allegation; placed on public lists by Baltimore Archdiocese in 2019 and Belleville Diocese in 2021.