Raymond Skriba: Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Have Been Admitted, Established or Determined to Be Credible

Archdiocese threatened laicization for insubordination, not child sex abuse

Raymond Skriba (the brother of another accused cleric, Richard Skriba) began abusing children in the 1960s, soon after his ordination in 1957. When the female victims came forward to the Archdiocese in 1970, Archbishop John Cody wrote and told Skriba “this whole matter should be forgotten.”

By 2002, more victims began to come forward. In December 2002, the Review Board determined that Skriba should be completely removed fro ministry. Two years later, the board determined that Skriba had abused another girl. As a result, Cardinal George only removed Skriba from ministry for five years.

Skriba refused to comply with the rules of his “protocols.” In 2007, the archdiocese threatened to laicize Skriba for insubordination.

In a 2008 deposition, Cardinal Francis George testified that he delayed removing Skriba from ministry, against the recommendation of the Review Board. He also testified that he did not make allegations against Skriba public out of consideration for the victims, “who did not want their stories paraded in public.”

Skriba’s current whereabouts are unknown.

TIMELINE OF DOCUMENTS -RAYMOND FRANCIS SKRIBA

5/3/57 – Ordained

7/6/57 – Assistant Pastor, Queen of the Universe

7/7/62 – Assistant Pastor, St. Gertrude, Franklin Park

1963                According to 2002 Report, Skriba sexually abused a minor by grabbing her buttocks and breasts and pressing his erection against her on more than one occasion. (AOC 004724; AOC 004820)

1963 -1968      According to a 2002 Report, Skriba sexually abused a minor by disrobing, manually penetrating and fondling the child on several occasions. (AOC 004722; AOC 004818)

According to 2002 Report, Skriba sexually abused a minor beginning when she was seven years old and doing everything short of actual intercourse. (AOC 004926)

5/22/67 – Assistant Pastor, St. Walter Church

1969                According to a 2006 Report, Skriba sexually abused a 16 year old female. The abuse consisted of touching over and under clothing and giving the minor gifts and money. (AOC 004795)

3/8/70              According to a 2002 letter from Vicar General Goedert to Sister Joy, Sister Therese appeared before Msgr. Byrne on 3/8/1970 with a high school student who alleged that Skriba sexually abused her. (AOC 004770)

3/22/70            Letter from Msgr. Byrne to “Your Eminence” stating that he met with Skriba regarding allegations of abuse and that Byrne believes that Skriba “should not remain at St. Walter, even if he is not guilty. His testimony claims that the girls were seeking him…in either event the girls are still there and this is not a good situation.” (AOC 004830)

5/23/70            Letter from Msgr. Byrne to the Vicar General

7/16/70            Letter from Archbishop to Skriba stating that “this whole matter should be forgotten by you as it has been forgotten by me.” (AOC 004775)

6/17/70 – Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph, Round Lake

6/10/76 – Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Waukegan

10/1/84 – Pastor, St. Joseph, Round Lake

1995                According to a 2003 Report, Skriba sexually abused a minor by touching and fondling the minor over the minor’s clothing on one occasion. (AOC 004725; AOC 004821)

10/20/02          Memorandum of meeting between Professional Fitness Review Administrator and Skriba in which Skriba denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by more than one survivor. (AOC 004804)

12/21/02          Memorandum from Professional Fitness Review Board meeting regarding an allegation of sexual abuse by Skriba. The Board unanimously recommended that Skriba withdraw from ministry. (AOC 004810)

7/31/03            Cardinal George forwarded Skriba’s case to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith asking for permission to conduct a penal trial in the Archdiocese of Chicago. (AOC 004923)

12/20/03          Skriba residing with his sister “as his monitor” which is a concern. (AOC 004779; AOC 004786)

3/15/04            Decree of Cardinal George that Skriba be removed from parish due to a sexual abuse allegation of a 14-year old minor at St. Joseph’s in Round Lake. (AOC 004731)

7/19/04            According to a 2004 Report, Skriba sexually abused a minor over his clothing. The board unanimously determined there is reasonable cause to suspect the misconduct occurred. (AOC 004816)

8/4/05              Decree of Cardinal George that Skriba is guilty of sexually abusing two minors and removing his “faculties to minister as a priest … for a period of five years.” (AOC 004729)

8/15/05            Letter from Skriba explaining why he resides in his family home in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. (AOC 004827)

8/22/05            Letter from Vicar for Priests to Skriba telling him to return to the Cardinal Stitch Retreat House and that he will be appointed a new monitor. (AOC 004825- AOC 004826)

1/29/07            Letter from Professional Responsibility Administrator to Cardinal George regarding Skriba’s consistent violations of the protocols and asking Cardinal George to do address it. (AOC 004918- AOC 004919)

2/6/07              Vicar for Priests and Fr. Smilanic met with Skriba to reiterate the importance for his compliance with protocols. Smilanic stated that failure to comply would cause the archdiocese to pursue Skriba’s laicization. (AOC 004917)