Credible Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Priest

WICS
January 13, 2014

http://www.wics.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_15138.shtml

A review board has found that an allegation against Father Robert Degrand is credible. That decision was unanimous. The Diocese of Springfield released the information Monday surrounding the alleged abuse said to have happened in 1980. Back then, Degrand was assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville. The review board's findings mean the investigation will be forwarded to the Vatican Congregation in Rome. Degrand, who has been on leave since last September, will stay there.

"Right now he is on leave from any public ministry, and he no longer lives at the rectory at the parishes that he had been using, so there's a parochial administrator in those parishes," Kathie Sass with the Springfield Catholic Diocese said.

Those parishes are in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville--basically around the Effingham area.

The diocese did notify the Morgan County State's Attorney immediately of the allegations. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was also made aware. That department's investigation was unable to document credible evidence of child abuse or neglect, which means children aren't currently at-risk, but they could draw no clear answer on what happened back in the 1980s.