More Sexual Abuse Complaints about Former Priest Who Served in Wauconda, Bartlett, Waukegan

By Bob Susnjara
Daily Herald
November 6, 2014

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20141106/news/141108890/

Complaints about a former suburban priest's sexual abuse of children have been periodically received by the Archdiocese of Chicago since initial allegations became public in 2002, according to documents released Thursday.

Previously secret files on the Rev. James Ray show the most recent claim about him molesting a boy was received by the archdiocese last January. The document states the possible abuse occurred while Ray was associate pastor at Transfiguration Parish in Wauconda from 1989 to 1991.

Other accusations about sexual abuse by Ray against three minors were lodged with the archdiocese in 2013 and 2009. Ray was laicized in January 2012 and no longer is a priest, according to the fresh files.

In 2002, the archdiocese announced Ray was under investigation for sexual misconduct while associate pastor at St. Peter Damian Parish in Bartlett from 1982 to 1989. In 1991, Wauconda parishioners were told Ray was removed because of misconduct at St. Peter Damian.

But the new documents show Ray also was accused of sexually attacking two boys when he was associate pastor at St. Anastasia Parish in Waukegan from 1975 to 1982. Ray was accused of starting the abuse when the boys were 10 and 11 years old.

"Two of the victims ... reported that they would sleep at the rectory," according to the report on Ray that has blacked-out sections.

Ray, whose current location is unknown, worked for Catholic Charities and the archdiocese's office of health and hospital affairs from 1991 to 2002.

Documents show Ray lived "with eight other members of the archdiocesan priesthood who have been removed from ministry due to sexual misconduct, mostly with minors" at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein in 2008. Cardinal Stritch is at University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.