ILLINOIS
Springfield Journal-Register
Steven Spearie
Correspondent
Posted Jan. 1, 2016
Most Reverend Daniel Ryan, who served as bishop of the Springfield Catholic Diocese for 15 years but abruptly resigned in 1999, died Thursday in Naperville. He was 85.
Ryan died at Sunrise of Naperville North, an assisted living facility, said a source in the Springfield diocese who didn’t want to go on the record. Ryan, who was bishop emeritus of the diocese, had been under hospice care.
His death was confirmed by several sources, including by Marlene Mulford, a spokeswoman for the Springfield diocese.
An independent investigative report in 2006 stated that Ryan fostered “a culture of secrecy” in the diocese that discouraged priests from coming forward with information about sexual misconduct by other priests in the diocese, which covers 28 counties in central Illinois.
Personally plagued by sexual abuse allegations, some masses that Ryan celebrated around the diocese were picketed, though Ryan was never charged or prosecuted.
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