JOLIET (IL)
The Herald News
By Ted Slowik
staff writer
JOLIET — Thirty years ago, George Knotek told Joliet Diocese officials that he was sexually abused by a priest. But his abuser remained in ministry at parishes until 2002.
Knotek is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday that seeks to force the diocese to release the names of all priests accused of sexually abusing children.
Knotek, 52, says the Rev. Donald Pock gave him alcohol and sexually abused him in 1970 at Divine Savior Church in Downers Grove. Knotek said he was 16 when he approached the Roman Catholic priest for advice on entering the seminary. About five years later, Knotek said he met with Pock and the late Rev. Raymond Vonesh, an auxiliary bishop, to report the incident.
"(Pock) said: 'If this happened, I'm sorry. I don't remember it, but I do have a problem with drinking,'" Knotek said.