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	Diocese: Priest's Departure Not Related to Abuse By Joe Hosey The Herald News [Joliet IL] May 16, 2006 http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/top/4_1_JO16_PRIEST_S1.htm The Joliet Diocese still will not disclose what the mysterious "stress" and "accusations" were that drove the pastor of St. Joseph Church to resign from his parish — but they insist they have nothing to do with sex. The Rev. James Radek announced he was ending his nearly four-year tenure at St. Joseph with statements read at the Mother's Day weekend Masses. The statement explained that Radek, 42, resigned due to "stress, accusations and the conflicts of recent times." But none of this has anything to do with any sexual dalliances, said Thomas Kerber, spokesman for the diocese. "The accusations mentioned in the statement read at Sunday Masses referred only to some internal parish matters," Kerber said. "There are no allegations of sexual misconduct." Kerber said he is not even sure the accusations allege that Radek broke the law. "I got the impression it was not criminal," he said. The resignation follows in the wake of an April grand jury session that heard testimony from Bishop Joseph Imesch and Morris priest Richard Smith and featured two more priests waiting outside the grand jury room. Talk outside the grand jury room between various witnesses waiting to testify repeatedly returned to St. Joseph Church. Kerber said he has "no knowledge" of the grand jury session. Charles Pelkie, spokesman for State's Attorney James Glasgow, said he could not discuss the grand jury proceedings. As far as the "accusations" mentioned in Radek's statement, Pelkie said, "We don't know what accusations he's referring to." City police detectives also testified at the grand jury session. Deputy Police Chief Fred Hayes said he could not comment on police testimony. Radek's plans to resign actually have been in the works for months, Kerber said, and during this time he has spoken with Imesch about "difficulties he has encountered at the parish as well as some personal problems that he has been facing. It was agreed that Father Radek would leave the parish toward the end of May." Radek did not return phone calls for comment. Radek was ordained for the Diocese of Joliet in June 1989. He was named pastor of St. Joseph Parish in June 2002. Prior to this, Radek served as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Raymond, at St. Raphael Parish in Naperville, St. Scholastica Parish in Woodridge and St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Naperville. The Rev. Timothy Andres, a Carmelite priest who teaches seventh grade at St. Joseph School, will be appointed as pastor in Radek's stead, Kerber said. Kerber said he does not know where Radek will go now that he is leaving St. Joseph. He also said the door remains open for the priest's return. "He could be reassigned again," Kerber said. "Something has to be straightened out first and I don't know what it is." - Contact Joe Hosey at (815) 729-6054 or e-mail him at jhosey@scn1.com
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