Robert Friese
Ordained: 1978
- 1977: Deacon at Mary, Seat of Wisdom, Park Ridge, IL (CHI)
- 1978: Ordained
- 1978-1980: St. Cyprian, River Grove, IL (CHI)
- 1980: On leave; St. Juliana, Chicago, IL (CHI)
- 1981: Maryville Academy, Chicago, IL (CHI)
- 1982-1984: Unknown
- 1985: Resigned
- 1986: Unknown
- 1987: Laicized
- 1988-2019: Unknown
Fr. Robert Friese worked in the Archdiocese of Chicago throughout his career as a priest. Two years after Fr. Robert Friese was ordained, the Archdiocese of Chicago received a report that he had sexually abused a child. Fr. Friese was purportedly placed on leave, but less than six months later, he was assigned to be a youth counselor at Maryville Academy, a child care agency for Catholic Charities. In 1984, Fr. Friese was arrested for abusing a minor boy at Maryville Academy. He was criminally convicted in 1985 and laicized in 1987. Fr. Friese is included in the Archdiocese of Chicago’s list of “Archdiocesan Priests with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Minors.” Fr. Friese was believed to be living in Glendale Heights as of 2008, however, his whereabouts and whether he has access to children are unknown.
6/15/1977 – Deacon, Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish
5/10/1978 Ordained
5/17/1978- Associate Pastor, St. Cyprian’s in River Grove
1980-1985 Leave of absence so listed in the 1981-85 Directories; later newspaper stories do not mention this leave or give a reason for it.
3/17/1980- Associate Pastor, St. Juliana’s in Chicago
9/5/1980 “Remove from Board. Chancellor to handle him as a disciplinary matter in confidence. (AOC 013768)
9/9/1980 Report of sexual abuse by Friese. (AOC 013776)
9/25/1980 Assignment terminated and temporary leave of absence granted. (AOC 013779)
10/1/1980 – On Leave
3/31/1981 – Youth Counsellor, Maryville Academy, a child care agency for catholic charities. (AOC 013795-13800)
8/1984 Friese arrested for abusing a Maryville boy. (AOC 013900)
9/24/1984 Memo that Friese admitted to ongoing relationship with victim who accused him of sexual abuse. (AOC 013895)
1/15/1985 Was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and taking indecent liberties with a 14-year-old boy.
8/1/1985 Resigned
1/16/1986 Friese to seek laicizaition. (AOC 013903)