Fr. Anthony J. (A.J.) Ross
Ordained: 1972
- 1973: St. John the Baptist, Winfield, IL (JOL)
- 1974-1980: The Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, Joliet, IL (JOL)
- 1981-1986: St. Peter, Itasca, IL (JOL)
- 1987-1988: Sacred Heart, Lombard, IL (JOL)
- 1989: Absent on Leave (JOL)
- 1990: St. Isidore, Bloomingdale, IL (JOL)
- 1991-1993: St. Charles Borromeo, Bensevillle, IL (JOL)
- 1994: Absent on Leave (JOL)
- 1994-2019: Unknown
Fr. Anthony J. Ross was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Joliet in 1972. In approximately 1981, a 15-year-old boy accused Fr. Ross of sexually abusing him while he was serving at St. Peter in Itasca, Illinois. In 1982, it is believed that Fr. Ross was sent to the House of Affirmation, an institution known for treating priests accused of child sexual abuse, where he continued to contact the boy by sending him love letters. The boy’s parents found these letters and purportedly demanded that the Bishop of Joliet remove him from the priesthood. However, Fr. Ross continued to serve in the Diocese of Joliet until 1992. When the survivor found out that Fr. Ross was still serving in Joliet, the survivor said he would forego litigation if Fr. Ross was removed from ministry. Fr. Ross was put on a leave of absence and then transferred to the Diocese of Santa Rosa, where he was incardinated in 1997. In 2002, it is believed that the survivor found out that Fr. Ross was still in ministry and Fr. Ross was subsequently permanently removed. Fr. Ross was named on 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. Ross’s current status as a priest, his whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.