Fr. Louis Peterson
Ordained: 1974
- 1975-1976: St. Augustine of Canterbury, Belleville, IL (BEL)
- 1977-1979: St. Mary’s, Belleville, IL (BEL)
- 1980: St. Albert the Great, Fairview Heights, IL (BEL)
- 1981-1982: Cathedral of St. Peter, Belleville, IL (BEL)
- 1983-1986: St. Edward, Fairfield, IL (BEL)
- 1987-1991: Holy Family, Cahokia, IL (BEL)
- 1992-1994: St. Teresa of the Child Jesus (Little Flower), Belleville, IL (BEL)
- 1995-2007: Leave of Absence (BEL)
- 2008-2018: Retired (BEL)
- 2019: Unknown
Fr. Louis Peterson was accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy between 1992 and 1994. Fr. Peterson was criminally investigated, but never prosecuted. In 1995, Fr. Peterson was permanently removed from ministry. In the early 2000s, Fr. Peterson asked for a review of his case and Bishop Gregory found no reason to return him to active ministry. In 2018, Fr. Peterson was included on the Diocese of Belleville’s list of “Clergy who are Currently Removed from Ministry after Credibly Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors, or Serious Sexual Misconduct with Adults.” Fr. Peterson’s current whereabouts, status as a priest, and whether he has access to children are unknown.