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Abusive Clerics and Religious Brothers

William C. Graham

ORDAINED: 1976

DIOCESAN: Duluth, MN

ILLINOIS ASSIGNMENTS
  • 2000-2005: Lewis University, Romeoville, IL

REPORTED SURVIVORS: At least 1

DATE/LOCATION OF REPORTED ABUSE
  • 1977-1978: Cathedral High School, Duluth, MN
DIOCESE CLAIM OF FIRST REPORT
  • N/A
PLACED ON CATHOLIC CHURCH PUBLIC LISTS
  • 11/26/19: Diocese of Duluth, MN
  • 12/13/19: Diocese of Joliet, IL
  • 10/14/22: Archdiocese of Chicago, IL
ACTIONS/STATUS
  • 2016: Removed from ministry
  • 2024: Granted Decree of Absolution by Vatican body under "moral certitude" standard
  • 2024: Returned to ministry
  • 2024: Retired

Note

In March 2024, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (the “Vatican”) reviewed the child sex abuse claim against Graham and granted his request for a decree of absolution. As a result, the Diocese of Duluth, the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the Diocese of Joliet each removed Graham from their lists of substantiated child sex abusers. Because the standard used by the Vatican (“there does not exist moral certitude of his culpability”) is inconsistent with the standards used by the dioceses when substantiating the claim against Graham outset (“credible,” “reasonable to suspect,” “more likely than not”) the Attorney General has not removed Graham from this Report’s list of substantiated child sex abusers who ministered in Illinois. Should the Vatican review the claim anew and “absolve” Graham under the appropriate standard, the Attorney General will further review the claim against Graham.

This section contains specific information regarding substantiated child sex abuse committed by Catholic clerics and religious brothers while ministering in the diocese. This information includes:

Click the + for more information and definitions

Name/Ordination Year
The name of the substantiated cleric or religious brother and the year he was ordained. In instances where no ordination year is noted, the ordination year is either designated as “unknown” or the individual is a non-ordained religious brother who took vows in a religious order.

Diocesan/Order
The diocese or religious order into which the cleric or religious brother was ordained or took vows.

Illinois Assignments
The parishes and related church locations where the cleric or religious brother was assigned while ministering in Illinois, as reported by a diocese or religious order.

Reported Survivors
The number of survivors who made claims of child sex abuse against the cleric or religious brother, as reported by the diocese or religious order and/or as revealed in criminal conviction records.

Date/Location of Reported Abuse
The date and location of claimed instances of child sex abuse committed by the cleric or religious brother, as reported by the diocese or religious order and/or as revealed in criminal conviction records.

Diocese Claim of First Report
The date the diocese reports having first received a child sex abuse claim, or claim of inappropriate behavior with a child, regarding the cleric or religious brother.

Placed on Catholic Church Public Lists
The date the identified diocese or religious order placed the cleric or religious brother on its public list of substantiated child sex abusers.

Actions/Status
Significant actions relating to the cleric or religious brother and his current status.

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