The Archdiocese of Chicago is allowing a retired priest to return to ministry after the church's independent review board found no reasonable cause to believe he had abused a minor decades ago.
In a letter distributed Saturday to six parish communities, Cardinal Blase Cupich said he had accepted the review board’s recommendation to close the case against the Rev. Kenneth Fleck.
The archdiocese received the allegation in July, more than 30 years after the alleged abuse occurred. Fleck served as pastor of Our Lady of Peace from May 1984 to August 1996, during which the abuse was alleged to have occurred.
Three months ago, Cupich asked the priest to step away from ministry while civil authorities and the archdiocese’s Independent Review Board investigated the allegation. The archdiocese also said it had been informed a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of a minor would be filed.
Fleck strongly denied the allegation and cooperated with the investigation, according to Cupich’s letter. He said Fleck is a priest in good standing and expressed appreciation for his years of service to the archdiocese.
"It is important to stress that the welfare of the children entrusted to our care is of paramount importance," Cupich wrote. "For this reason, we take all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously. At the same time, we must restore the good name of anyone so accused when the allegations are found to be unsubstantiated."
Fleck also served at St. Barnabas, St. Josephine Bakhita and St. Katherine Drexel, all in Chicago, as well as St. Catherine of Alexandria in Oak Lawn, Christ Our Savior in South Holland and St. George in Tinley Park.
The archdiocese also encouraged anyone who has experienced sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee to come forward.
