ILLINOIS
XFM
Written by Greg Sapp
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has permanently removed Father Robert “Bud” DeGrand as pastor of the parishes of St. Michael and Archangel in Sigel, St. Mary of the Assumption in Neoga, St. Mary Help of Christians in Green Creek, and Sacred Heart in Lillyville, effective immediately.
The Bishop sent a letter to parishioners that said his action was taken “In light of Father DeGrand’s refusal to cooperate with the process to determine his suitability to return to ministry.”
Father Sunder Ery will continue as Parochial Administrator of the parishes.
Father DeGrand was removed from active ministry when the Diocesan Review Board unanimously found that an allegation of clerical sexual misconduct with a minor was credible. The finding came in December of 2013 but involved an alleged incident that was to have occurred decades before when he was serving in another parish in Illinois.
Bishop Paprocki met with parishioners in Sigel last September 20 and reported that Father DeGrand’s case was pending at the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Bishop’s letter, dated May 2, said, “What I did not know at the time when I met with you was that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had sent me a letter dated September 10, 2014, referring the case back to me. I did not receive that letter until the week after my meeting with parishioners due to the time it takes for mail to be sent from the Vatican by diplomatic channels through the Vatican Embassy in Washington, DC.”
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