Bishop Paprocki Needs to Do More in Degrand Case

By Chris Dettro
State Journal-Register
May 6, 2015

http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150506/NEWS/150509583/0/SEARCH

The director of a national support group for clergy abuse victims said he's glad the Rev. Robert "Bud" DeGrand has been permanently removed as a pastor, but he wants Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki to do more for victims and less for the priest accused of sexual misconduct.

"We're glad that if Bishop Thomas Paprocki keeps his promise, Father Robert 'Bud' DeGrand won't ever work in a parish again," said David Clohessy, national director of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP.

But Clohessy urged the bishop to stop using church funds to pay DeGrand's attorney's fees and to post notices about DeGrand and the credible accusations against him on the diocesan website and in parish bulletins. SNAP also wants Paprocki to personally visit each parish where DeGrand has worked to encourage "all victims, witnesses and whistle-blowers to call police."

DeGrand is alleged to have sexually abused a minor while he was serving in Jacksonville in 1980, the same year he was ordained to the priesthood.

Paprocki met Saturday with parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel in Sigel, St. Mary of the Assumption in Neoga, St. Mary Help of Christians in Green Creek and Sacred Heart in Lillyville to inform them of DeGrand's immediate removal.

According to the diocese, DeGrand refused to cooperate in its investigation and rejected Paprocki's order that he move to a private residence in Springfield while on administrative leave. That disobedience led to his removal from public ministry.

Catholic Church policies require the accused priest in such cases to be on administrative leave and to live away from his assignment while the case is pending.

The suspension means DeGrand's compensation was reduced from full salary, which he had been receiving since being placed on administrative leave, to a monthly stipend for room and board.

The diocese continues to provide compensation for his support and to pay his attorney's fees, a diocese news release said.

DeGrand currently is living in a house that is not on parish property in Sigel, a town of about 350 in Shelby County, said diocese spokesman Marlene Mulford.

In January 2014, the Diocesan Review Board unanimously found that the allegation against DeGrand, 62, of clerical sexual misconduct with a minor was credible. Paprocki met with parishioners Sept. 20 and reported that DeGrand's case was pending at the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. A week later, Paprocki received a letter referring the case back to him.

A diocesan news release Saturday said Paprocki offered DeGrand an opportunity to meet again with the review board, but DeGrand refused. He also refused to take a lie detector test, the diocese said.

The review board asked DeGrand to return to Guest House in Minnesota, where he was treated for alcohol abuse in 1996, for a re-evaluation, but DeGrand again refused, the diocese said.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was unable to document credible evidence of child abuse or neglect in its investigation addressing present risk to children, but it did not conduct an investigation into the allegation from the 1980s, when DeGrand was at Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.

Morgan County State's Attorney Robert Bonjean III said no criminal charges currently are being considered against DeGrand.

"We've had some limited information from the Catholic diocese in Springfield, and based on the timing of what we know, it is outside the statute of limitations," Bonjean said. "A detective from the Jacksonville Police Department reached out to the victim and couldn't get any more information."

Bonjean said criminal charges are unlikely unless another victim comes forward.

Clohessy said the fact that the Jacksonville case is beyond the statute of limitations is reason enough that Paprocki "should go out and beat the bushes and see if there are other victims out there."

Clohessy speculated that DeGrand might decide to move to the Springfield residence offered by Paprocki.

"Maybe he will go to the house in Springfield," Clohessy said. "Usually these priests know just how financially dependent they are on the diocese. And it is unusual, but certainly not rare, for an accused priest to be belligerent."

Clohessy said it also is very common for parishioners to rally around their priest when he is accused.

DeGrand also has served parishes in Winchester, Bluffs and Granite City.