Br. Jerome Skaja

In 10/2022 a man publicly stated that Skaja sexually assaulted him numerous times in the 1980s when he was a prepubescent student at Marmion Military Academy in Aurora. The man said he told the dean of students, Rev. Vincent Bataille, who told him to keep it quiet. He said he also told some classmates and that the mother of one of them allegedly confronted the abbot, Rev. David Cyr, to no avail. Skaja remained at the school. His accuser received a settlement from the Benedictines at some point. The Order was reportedly investigating allegations against Skaja as of 10/2022. Skaja died in 2016. In 2/2023 the Order admitted that Skaja was accused multiple times of molesting minors in the 1970s and 1980s, and that the allegations were “true.” He was dismissed from the Order in 1988. Included on the Benedictines of Marmion Abbey list 2/24/2023. Included on the Rockford diocese’s list 3/6/2023. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report, which notes 5 “reported survivors.”