Richard Gregory Theisen: Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Have Been Admitted, Established or Determined to Be Credible

Richard Gregory Theisen

Ordained: 1952

  • 1952-1957: St. Francis Borgia, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1957-1958: St. Patrick High School, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1958-1963: St. Francis de Sales, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1963-1965: St. Henry, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1965-1966: St. Christina, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1966-1972: St. Leonard, Berwyn, IL (CHI)
  • 1972-1978: St. Cornelius, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1978: Leave of Absence
  • 1979-2001: Unknown
  • 2001: Laicized
  • 2013: Died

In 1966 the Archdiocese of Chicago was notified of inappropriate communication between Fr. Theisen and a female college student. Bishop O’Donnell was notified that similar complaints had been received but nothing could be proven. In 1978 Fr. Theisen took a leave of absence and wrote to the Archbishop that he did not want to return to active ministry. Fr. Theisen married in 1979 and was laicized in 2001. A report of sexual abuse of a minor female was reported to the Archdiocese in 2002. Fr. Theisen’s whereabouts and whether he had access to children from 1978 until his death in 2013 is unknown. Fr. Theisen is included on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s list of “Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Minors.”