The former pastor of a Bartlett church was reinstated Saturday after Cardinal Blase Cupich said Saturday an investigation found insufficient evidence to prove allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.
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A pastor in west suburban Bartlett has been asked to step down amid decades-old sexual abuse allegations while authorities investigate, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Father Christopher Ciomek, pastor of Saint Peter Damian Parish in Bartlett, was asked to “step aside from ministry following receipt by the Archdiocese of allegations of sexual abuse of a minor approximately 30 years ago,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said in a statement.
The allegations were reported to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, as well as the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, Cupich said.
Father Ciomek was asked to live away from the parish throughout the duration of the investigation.
Archdiocese investigates sexual abuse allegations against Bartlett priest
Updated 4/17/2021 7:04 PM
The pastor of a Bartlett parish has been asked to step aside from ministry after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The archdiocese received allegations that the Rev. Christopher Ciomek of St. Peter Damian Parish sexually abused a minor about 30 years ago, according to a letter from Cardinal Blase Cupich dated Monday.
Cupich wrote that these allegations are claims that have not been as true or false. Therefore, guilt or innocence should not be assumed.
Ciomek was ordained in 1998 and served as full-time associate pastor at St. Monica Parish in Chicago and then at St. Theresa Parish in Palatine, according to his biography on the St. Peter Damian Parish website.
JOHN BYRNE
Chicago Tribune
The pastor of a west suburban church has stepped aside due to allegations that he sexually abused a minor three decades ago, the archdiocese of Chicago has announced.
In a letter to parishioners at Saint Peter Damian parish in Bartlett, Archbishop Blaise Cupich said Father Christopher Ciomek had agreed to step aside following âallegations of sexual abuse of a minor approximately 30 years ago.â
âI have further directed Father Ciomek to live away from the parish while the matter is investigated, and he is fully cooperating with this direction,â the archbishopâs letter reads in part.
The state Department of Children and Family Services and the Cook County Stateâs Attorneyâs office have been informed about the allegations, Cupich said.