Rev. John Hefferan served as parochial administrator for St. Alphonsus Parish in Lemont from July 2002 to January 2003 while the parish was in between pastors.

The documents show official meetings and discussions the archdiocese and review boards had about the accused priests. None of the accused priests whose documents were released are currently in the ministry. Several of the accused priests live in a facility for retired priests in Lemont.

Hefferan was first accused of sexual misconduct in 1993, stemming from an incident that allegedly took place between 1977 and 1978 while at St. Vianney Parish in Northlake.

A review board allowed him to stay in the ministry under observation and later discontinued the monitoring because it believed he was unlikely to repeat the sexual misconduct.

The second accusation was received in May 2002 and formalized in January 2003, saying that he sexually abused a female minor between 1968 and 1969 while at St. Simeon Parish in Bellwood.

An independent review board determined there was reasonable cause to suspect sexual misconduct with a minor had occurred and Hefferan was removed from the ministry.

To see all the documents released, visit docinfo.archchicago.org.