Child molesting cleric is “outed” for first time ever

Accused of molesting boy, he now works for small city

Lawsuit against Archdiocese & religious order and was settled

Now, he’s in a community center & across street from a school

SNAP urges Berwyn to suspend him while town investigates accusations

Concerned neighbors alerted SNAP to alleged predator’s job & whereabouts

WHAT: Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will disclose that a credibly accused Catholic cleric who’s been sued for molesting a boy
-- has a government job with a Chicago suburb, and
-- works in a community center

They will -- urge his employer, the city of Berwyn, to suspend him and investigate his past,
-- urge Chicago Catholic officials to warn the public and parishioners about him, and
-- urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered his crimes or misdeeds to call police and get help.

WHERE: Outside Berwyn Community Center, 6420 West 16th St, in Berwyn (across from Lincoln Middle School)

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 14 at 1:15 pm

WHO: Three adults who were molested as kids and who belong to a self help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY: In 1997, a civil child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit was filed in Cook County alleging that Brother Frank Paduch abused a freshman at St Rita High School in Chicago in 1980-81. Two years later, that lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount by the Chicago Archdiocese and Paduch’s, Olympia Fields, IL -based religious order, the Augustinians (708 748 9500.)

Through several concerned Berwyn citizens, SNAP just learned that Paduch now works as the head of Senior Services for the City of Berwyn. He’s had the position since 2005. His office is in the same building that houses a children’s theater group and is across the street from a school. For the safety of kids, SNAP feels he should be suspended, at least temporarily, from that position.

The lawsuit alleged that Paduch “engaged in unpermitted, harmful and offensive sexual contact with a student and that the abuse was so extreme, outrageous and severe that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it.” It also said his Catholic supervisors held Paduch out as a qualified Roman Catholic brother, religious instructor and counselor at the school where he was a theology teacher and coach. The student was a freshman. The defendants in the civil suit were represented by attorney James Geoly (312-840-7000).

During settlement negotiations in a separate case, a defense attorney admitted that church officials had received previous allegations against Paduch. SNAP is aware of a total of five alleged victims of Paduch.

In several instances, employers who have unknowingly hired child molesting clerics have later suspended or fired them, when it has become clear that the predators misled or lied during the application process. SNAP believes an investigation could help determine whether this happened in Berwyn with Paduch.

According to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, at least one other known predator, Joshua James Hamilton, lives in Paduch’s building. Several neighbors have told SNAP Hamilton lives in Paduch’s apartment. http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/offenderdetails.cfm?SORID=E09B5515&CFID=48396052&CFTOKEN=53083730&jsessionid=b0306a173238$1D$FA$B

Paduch also worked in three counties in TX including, Hardin, Chambers and Jefferson, as an official for the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas from 1988 until 2000.

Copies of the lawsuit, letter to Berywn City Mayor, Paduch’s resume, documents from City of Berwyn website and copy of profile from IL Sex Offender Registry will be available.

CONTACT: Barbara Blaine, SNAP President, 312 399 4747, David Clohessy, SNAP National Director, 314 566 9790, Therese Albrecht, SNAP Chicago Spokesperson, 708 263 3050