Joseph Kissane
Ordained: 1969
- 1969-1970: Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown, IL (CHI)
- 1970-1976: St. Cajetan, Chicago, IL (CHI)
- 1981-1986: St. Adrian, Chicago, IL (CHI)
- 1987: Unknown
- 1988-1990: Most Holy Redeemer, Evergreen Park, IL (CHI)
- 1991: Resigned
- 1991-2011: Unknown
- 2010: Laicized
- 2011: Died
Throughout Fr. Joseph Patrick Kissane’s career as a priest, the Archdiocese received multiple reports that Fr. Kissane allegedly brought grade-school girls to his living quarters. He remained in active in ministry until his resignation in 1991. Fr. Kissane was laicized in 2010 and has been named in at least two lawsuits. Fr. Kissane is listed in the Archdiocese of Chicago’s list of Archdiocesan Priests with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Minors. Fr. Kissane’s whereabouts and whether he had access to children from 1991 until his death are unknown.
Another member of the “Vatican 400”
The Kissane file reveals an extremely aggressive and violent abuser. There were allegations that he routinely brought grade school girls up to his room at the rectory. The principal at the school said that the girls were paying too much attention to the priest and was quick give the priest a “pass.”
In 1991, Kissane resigned from the priesthood. In 2002, he told the Archdiocesan review board that “As an adult and adult priest I went through my adolescence.”
In a 2007 deposition, Bishop Raymond Goedert admitted that he personally investigated sex abuse allegations against Kissane in 1989.
Kissane was laicized in August 2010 and is a part of the “Vatican 400,” 400 priests laicized between 2010 and 2012 for child sexual abuse. He died in 2011.
TIMELINE OF DOCUMENTS- JOSEPH KISSANE
5/14/69 – Ordained
6/5/69 – Associate Pastor, Our Lady of Loretto
6/5/70 – Associate Pastor, St. Cajetan’s
1974 According to a 1994 report to Cardinal Bernardin, Kissane kissed, fondled, masturbated and videotaped a survivor in St. Cajetan’s rectory bed. (AOC 003539; AOC 003551; AOC 003554; AOC 003598)
1975 According to a 2002 report to the Archdiocese, Kissane molested and anally raped a survivor at St. Cajetan’s. (AOC 003573)
6/10/76 – Associate Pastor, St. Catherine of Alexandria
1976 According to Bishop Goedert’s January 5, 1990 investigation Fr. Jim Hardiman reported grade school girls hanging out with Kissane, going to his room and going for rides in his car. Fr. Hardiman said that Sister Murial, the principal of the school, said to him that she was concerned that girls were paying too much attention to Kissane and being at the rectory so much. (AOC 003574)
1980 According to a report to the Archdiocese in 2002, Kissane kissed, fondled, masturbated and simulated intercourse with a survivor in Saint Catherine’s rectory and Kissane’s car. (AOC 003570)
6/8/81 – Associate Pastor, St. Adrian’s
6/10/86 – In Residence, Most Holy Redeemer
1986 According to a report to the Archdiocese in 2004, Kissane fondled and digitially penetrated a survivor at Holy Redeemer and the homes of Kissane’s relatives. (AOC 003565)
5/8/89 Letter from the Holy Redeemer School Board to Cardinal Benardin regarding behavior of Kissane and his administration of the grade school. (AOC 003584- AOC 003586)
1/5/90 Bishop Goedert investigation notes to Kissane file. At Saint Catherine’s Pastor George McKenna was having enough of his own problems with parishioners.
3/25/91 Father Kealy paper on pedophilia, priest psychological issues, psychic defects, inducing clerics to resign from ministry and the use of Canon 1044.2. (AOC 003588- AOC 003589)
6/5/91 Kissane’s resignation from ministry accepted by Cardinal Bernardin. (AOC 003587)
10/14/02 Kissane states to the Archdiocese review board inquiry: “As an adult and adult priest I went through my adolescence”. (AOC 003534)
8/19/04 A survivor reports sexual abuse by Kissane to the Archdiocese. (AOC 003567)
8/10 Kissane is laicized
4/11 Kissane dies