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Apr 8, 2006 2:15 pm US/Central
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Priest Who Abused Boys To Be Paroled
Rev. Fred Lenczycki Scheduled To Be Paroled Tuesday
JOLIET, Ill. (STNG) ―
A Joliet diocese priest's release from prison after serving a sentence for sexually abusing young boys is renewing criticism that Joliet Bishop Joseph Imesch gave sexual predators continued access to children.
The Rev. Fred Lenczycki, 61, pleaded guilty in January 2004 to criminal sexual abuse of three boys younger than age 13 and was sentenced to five years in prison. He is scheduled to be paroled Tuesday from the Dixon Correctional Center, a medium-security facility.
Lenczycki was convicted of molesting altar boys at St. Isaac Jogues parish in Hinsdale in 1984. When reports of misconduct surfaced, Imesch sent Lenczycki for counseling, then reassigned him to ministries in Missouri and California. Lenczycki continued to molest boys in California until at least 1991, DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said at the time of Lenczycki's sentencing.
Lenczycki's conviction prompted legislation that changed Illinois law and required clergy to contact civil authorities whenever sexual abuse of a minor is suspected. Lenczycki will have to register as a sex offender and will be on conditional parole for four years, an Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman said.
One of the boys Lenczycki molested sued the Catholic priest and the diocese in 1997, saying the cleric abused at least nine altar boys. Imesch did not remove Lenczycki from his post as a hospital chaplain until 2002. Another victim sued in 2004 and is represented by Minneapolis attorney Jeff Anderson, who called Lenczycki a serial predator who should be locked up for life.
"I'm concerned about his risk to others," Anderson said. "He's a victim of the clerical culture that protected him for so many years." Lenczycki would not have abused some of the boys if Imesch had promptly told civil authorities about the cleric's escapades with young children, the attorney said. "While Lenczycki is on his way out of prison, Imesch should be on his way in," he said.
Four of the six diocesan priests convicted of molesting children have been defrocked. A diocesan spokesman said Imesch hasn't decided yet whether to ask the Vatican to remove Lenczycki from the priesthood.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)