Fr. J. Anthony Meis: Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Have Been Admitted, Established or Determined to Be Credible

Fr. J. Anthony Meis

Ordained: 1972

  • 1973: St. Joseph’s, Manhattan, IL (JOL)
  • 1974: St. Liborius, Steger, IL (JOL)
  • 1975: St. Joseph Church, Lockport, IL (JOL)
  • 1976-1977: On Duty Outside Diocese (JOL) – Location Unknown
  • 1978-1979: St. Joseph Church, Bradley, IL (JOL)
  • 1979-1980: Bishop McNamara High School, Kankakee, IL (JOL)
  • 1981-1988: St. Joseph Church, Cabery, IL (JOL)
  • 1989-1994: Saints Mary and Joseph Church, Chebanese, IL (JOL)
  • 1995: Absent on Leave (JOL) – Location Unknown
  • 1996-2000: Unknown
  • 2001-2003: St. Anthony’s Medical Center, St. Louis, MO (STL)
  • 2004-2005: Unknown
  • 2006-2015: Retired (JOL) – Location Unknown
  • 2015: Leave of Absence (JOL) – Location Unknown
  • 2015: Died

Fr. J. Anthony Meis was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Joliet in 1972. In 1994, it is believed that Fr. Meis left his position at Saints Mary and Joseph amid allegations that he sexually abused a child at Saints Mary and Joseph in the late 1980s. After Fr. Meis reportedly received therapy, he was sent to serve in St. Louis, Missouri at St. Anthony’s Medical Center from 1994 until he was removed from ministry in 2002. Fr. Meis has been named in at least one civil lawsuit and was included in the Diocese of Joliet’s list of “Diocesan Priests with Credible Allegation(s) of Sexual Misconduct with Minors Made Against Them While Serving in the Diocese of Joliet” with “Substantiated Allegations.” Fr. Meis’ status as a priest, his whereabouts, and whether he had access to children from 2003 until his death in 2015 are unknown.