SPRINGFIELD (IL)
SJ-R.com
By LISA KERNEK
STAFF WRITER
Monsignor Eugene Costa has left Illinois for a center that specializes in rehabilitating priests, nuns and members of religious orders.
Costa, 54, was found badly beaten in Douglas Park the night of Dec. 21. He has since resigned as pastor of parishes in Sherman and Athens and as chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield.
Costa left Springfield over the weekend, said Kathie Sass, a spokeswoman for the diocese. She declined to give the location of the center except to say it is out of state.
"He continues to improve," Sass said of Costa. "He is in for a long recovery." ...
Last week, the diocese put out a written statement saying that Costa's resignation would allow him to deal with "previous instances of inappropriate and risky behavior that have come to light during this difficult period."