WHEATON (IL)
The Herald News
By Ted Slowik
staff writer
WHEATON — Prominent attorneys are scheduled to pack a DuPage County courtroom today in a bid to convince a judge to modify a protective order that shields documents and testimony about a former Joliet Diocese priest accused of sexually abusing a young boy.
Advocates for the alleged victim hope to persuade Judge Stephen Culliton to amend his order so that the Aug. 11 deposition of Joliet Bishop Joseph Imesch would be made public. Imesch testified under oath about Ed Stefanich, who was removed from the priesthood after he was convicted of sexually abusing a 14-year-old Woodridge girl in 1987.
A Glen Ellyn man in his 40s sued the diocese in 2003, saying he recently recalled repressed memories of alleged abuse by Stefanich while at Christ the King parish in Lombard about 35 years ago.
Two other parties, the Chicago Tribune and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, have joined the lawsuit on the alleged victim's behalf.
The judge is allowing lawyers for the other parties to plead at today's hearing.