Br. Francis Skube

Founded the Franciscan Brothers of Christ the King, sponsored by Belleville Bishop Zuroweste in 1961. Taught elementary school in diocesan parishes. Per the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report, in 1959 the pastor of St. Francis in Provo UT informed the Diocese of Springfield IL that Skube had “engaged in homosexual acts” with nine junior high school boys. The Belleville diocese wasn’t informed until 1/1971. In 1975 Skube moved the Order to the Diocese of Davenport IA after Bishop Zuroweste said it could stay in the diocese only if Skube resigned as its leader and got “psychiatric aid” for his “problems.” He later moved through the Diocese of Peoria and dioceses in FL, IN and OH. Retired in 2010, moved to Springfield IL. Name appears on the Davenport diocese Creditors Committee website in 2007 as having credible allegations of abuse against him. Two men say they were students in Skube’s small Order, ages 17-18, when he sexually abused one and beat the other. Both personally told Bishop O’Keefe in 1977, but no action. Included on the Davenport’s 7/2008 list of credibly accused. It notes allegations of sexual abuse of one male minor and one male adult. The Diocese’s updated list in 2/2022 shows that Skube was accused of sexually abusing three male minors. Included on the Belleville Diocese’s 9/20/2022 list. Skube died 9/26/2022.