Fr. Francis Emil Dilla: Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Have Been Admitted, Established or Determined to Be Credible

Fr. Francis Emil Dilla

Ordained: 1953

  • 1953-1958: Saints Cyril and Methodius, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1958-1964: St. Joseph, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1964-1965: St. Simon the Apostle, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1965-1971: Holy Rosary, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1971-1975: Assumption BVM, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1975-1991: Sacred Heart, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1991: Sabbatical
  • 1991-1992: Unknown
  • 1993: Retired
  • 1994-2004: Unknown
  • 2005: Died

Fr. Francis E. Dilla worked as a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago. At his first parish assignment, Fr. Dilla was an altar boy director, Parish Teen Club Chaplain, and Young Christian Workers Chaplain at various parishes in the Archdiocese. In 1991, the Archdiocese received a report that Fr. Dilla had sexually abused a child. Fr. Dilla was directed not to be in the presence of minor children without another responsible adult. In 1992, Fr. Dilla asked to have his faculties restored, but the Archdiocese received another report of child sexual abuse by Fr. Dilla in 1993. Fr. Dilla retired in 1993 and was restricted from exercising ministry.

Fr. Francis E. Dilla Timeline

Fr. Francis E. Dilla Documents

5/1/1953          Ordained

6/29/1953 – Assistant Pastor, Ss. Cyril and Methodius

Altar Boy Director, Parish Teen Club Chaplain, Young Christian Workers Chaplain (AOC 013141)

7/9/1958 – Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph’s

6/25/1964 – Assistant Pastor, St. Simon’s with accused priest Richard L. Skriba

6/30/1965 – Assistant Pastor, Holy Rosary

2/1/1971- Associate Pastor, Assumption BVM Parish

9/9/1975 – Administrator, Sacred Heart

4/28/1978 – Pastor, Sacred Heart

1/1/1991-6/1/1991 – Sabatical

11/20/1991      Allegation of sexual abuse (AOC 013156, 013160)

2/7/1992          Letter from Patrick O’Malley to Dilla that he asked him not to be in the presence of minors without responsible adults being present. (AOC 013161)

12/22/1992      Memo to file from Patrick O’Malley that Dilla wants his faculties to be restored, “we indicated to him that there might be a possibility of a partial restoration for a limited ministry in the future.” (AOC 013173)

6/26/1993        Report of sexual abuse of a minor (AOC 013184)

11/1/1993        Retired

11/16/1993      Paprocki notifies Bp. Of Fort Wayne that Dilla is restricted from exercising ministry. (AOC 013206)

2/2005             Died