New Child Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against Diocese of Peoria
Virtual Press Conference Today – Live Stream at 1:30 p.m. CST
Priest Abused Children for Nearly Two Decades Before Abusing Plaintiff, Michael Eckert
Priest’s Current Access to Kids Unknown
Over 50 Peoria-Area Clergy Now Publicly Accused of Child Abuse, Current Whereabouts of Many Unknown
“The Diocese of Peoria knew about many priests that abused kids before our client was even born. This was a pattern of depravity that the Diocese should’ve stopped. The abuse and perpetual trauma Michael suffered was preventable.” – Marc Pearlman, attorney
(Peoria, IL) – Today, three attorneys will disclose and discuss horrifying details of a new child sexual abuse and cover-up lawsuit against a still-living but now-defrocked Catholic priest and his Catholic supervisors.
The suit charges that Fr. Thomas Miller molested Michael, who was only eight years old when the abuse started, dozens of times between 1997 – 2003. The abuse happened in the church, rectory and school at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Peoria.
WHEN: Monday, March 10th at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Live-streamed on our YouTube channel.
WHO: Three experienced attorneys – two in Illinois and one in Minnesota – who represent the victim and have handled hundreds of similar cases.
WHY:
According to the Illinois Attorney General’s report, nearly two decades prior to abusing Michael, Fr. Miller was accused of abusing a different child from 1979 – 1982 during his first assignment at Holy Trinity in Bloomington, Illinois. He was then transferred to Schlarman High School in Danville and St. Bernard’s in Peoria before being moved again to St. Vincent de Paul where he sexually abused Michael. Miller was put on leave in 2004 and defrocked by the Vatican in 2006.
It is believed that Fr. Miller currently resides in Southern Illinois, but whether he has access to children at this time is unknown.
BACKGROUND:
The suit also names over 20 current or former Peoria priests who the Bishops of the Diocese of Peoria knew had been accused of sexually abusing children prior to Fr. Miller sexually abusing Michael. Peoria church officials had knowledge of sexual abuse within the Diocese no later than 1946.
After a lengthy investigation, the Illinois Attorney General’s office released a 696-page report on clergy sex crimes and cover-ups across the state, naming 50 priests in Peoria. It found fault with the Peoria Diocese in several ways, including its refusal “to acknowledge credible allegations against” abusive clerics, even one who pleaded guilty to abusing a child and served three years in prison, but the Diocese described the allegations against him as “unsubstantiated.”
“One of the deepest levels of betrayal is when a trusted adult in a position of authority abuses that trust and takes advantage of an innocent child. While we cannot erase the betrayal or harm Michael has experienced, we are proud to stand with him as he courageously seeks justice.” – Jeff Anderson, attorney