Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Belleville
If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse by a priest, you are not alone. Our attorneys & advocates are here to help you.
If you are a survivor of clergy sexual abuse and simply need someone to listen to your story without judgment, we are ready to help child sexual abuse survivors like you obtain justice, healing, compensation, and accountability in the Diocese of Belleville. Our law firm of legal professionals and trauma-informed advocates is dedicated to helping survivors of child sexual abuse across the state understand their rights and confidently take legal action.
Attorney General Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse in Illinois
In 2023, Attorney General Kwame Raoul released an investigative report into clergy sexual abuse in Illinois, appending former Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s findings. This investigative report revealed claims by 1,997 survivors who were sexually abused by 451 priests or members of Catholic clergy in dioceses across Illinois.
Report: Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese and Dioceses in Illinois
This report contains the names of clergy associated with the Archdiocese and Diocese in Illinois who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil court. Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proven or substantiated in a court of law. Download the report.
We support survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Visit our Question and Answers pages for additional resources. We believe you.
Contract Affiliations and Co-Counsel in Illinois
The alliance of Jeff Anderson & Associates and Frost & Pearlman is the most recognized team of clergy abuse attorneys in Chicago and all of Illinois. As sexual abuse lawyers, we have represented thousands of victims of childhood sexual abuse in cases against individual offenders and the institutions that harbor them. We are engaged with a national network of attorneys who share our mission, and when we take a case, we exhaust every imaginable resource in order to serve our clients’ needs.
Marc Pearlman
Attorney – Illinois
Marc Pearlman, of the Chicago-based law firm Frost and Pearlman, is an intense and focused Chicago clergy abuse attorney practitioner with significant experience working alongside Jeff Anderson & Associates representing survivors of priest abuse and sexual abuse and exploitation in general. He has participated in many domestic and international arbitrations and acted as national coordinating counsel for his clients.
In representing victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, Marc is committed to advocating on behalf of and protecting the interests of children and vulnerable adults. In addition to litigating and settling cases on behalf of his clients, Marc has assisted in drafting legislation and worked to change law to better protect victims of sexual abuse.
Marc graduated from Cornell University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1991.
An accomplished athlete, Marc played four years of football at Cornell, and was a black belt in judo and a ten-time United States judo champion. In 1984, he was the youngest member invited to the U.S. Olympic trials. Marc attributes some of his most positive workplace qualities – teamwork, loyalty, discipline and determination – to having participated in these sports.
Marc Pearlman Bar Admissions:
- Illinois
- U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
Melissa Anderson
Attorney – Illinois
Melissa A. Anderson, of the Chicago-based law firm Frost and Pearlman is honored to bring her years of civil litigation and dispute resolution experience to advocate on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
With a passion for helping children and adults impacted by such abuse, Melissa seeks to bring a sense of calm and empowerment to those for whom she advocates and is dedicated to holding offenders and their enabling institutions accountable.
Melissa obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her J.D. with honors from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Melissa continues to reside in the Chicago suburbs where she is raising her two young boys.
You Are Not Alone. We Are Here to Help.
It’s time for justice. It’s time for you to share your story safely and confidentially. It’s time to lay down your burden and reclaim some of your power. It’s time to expose those who hurt you and make sure what happened to you never happens to another kid. It’s time to take action. Before making a decision concerning such serious and sensitive matters, we encourage all survivors of child sexual abuse to consult with legal counsel before proceeding with a claim. We want to help you find accountability and healing. We will stand by you. We will fight for you.
If you experienced sexual abuse in the Diocese of Belleville, contact us confidentially today.
Clergy Accused of Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Belleville
The list below contains the names of clergy who were assigned within or working in the Diocese of Belleville and who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil or criminal court. Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proven or substantiated in a court of law.
All individuals should be considered innocent until proven guilty. In some situations, the statute of limitations has expired, preventing cases from being heard in a court of law. The information contained herein is an attempt to compile information already available to the public, including information obtained from the media, www.bishopaccountability.org, the diocese’s public statements, lists, and reports that were released to the public, and other sources that have attempted to chronicle this information for public use.
