Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago
Notes:
Man came forward 2002 to allege abuse by Steel and Donald Ryniecki, a school principal at St. Joseph the Worker in 1982 when he was 13. In 11/06, review board determined that there was reason to believe allegations credible. Steel left priesthood in 5/92 and was laicized in 3/01. One claim included in 8/08 $12.7M settlement involving 11 priests and 16 plaintiffs. Personnel file released 01/14. Also believed to have abused same boy in northern WI. No criminal charges were expected to be filed in WI as of 5/1/14 and accuser upset. SOL in Illinois had expired.
Sources:
Archdiocese of Chicago List 03.20.06; Chicago Tribune 12.24.06; Madill Reports – Northwestern Univ 01.16.07; Chicago Daily Herald 01.18.07; Chicago Tribune 08.12.08; WBBM 08.12.08; ABC 7 08.13.08; Chicago Sun-Times 08.13.08; Chicago Sun-Times 08.13.08; Chicago Tribune 08.13.08; Lake County News-Sun 08.13.08; The Beacon 08.13.08; Jeff Anderson & Assoc News Release 08.14.08; Catholic New World 08.17.08; Chicago Archdiocesan Report 01.14.10; Daily Herald 01.21.14; Personnel File Released 01.21.14; Duluth News Tribune 01.26.14; Spooner Advocate 05.01.14; http://bishop-accountability.org/member/psearch.jsp