Fr. Joseph Stephen Thomas
Ordained: 1952
- 1952-1960: St. Columba, Chicago, IL (CHI)
- 1960-1966: St. David, Chicago, IL (CHI)
- 1966-1975: St. Ferdinand, Chicago, IL (CHI)
- 1975: St. Giles, Oak Park, IL (CHI)
- 1975-1987: St. Margaret Mary, Chicago, IL (CHI); Our Lady of the Cross Mission, Chicago, IL (CHI)
- 1987-1989: St. John Vianney, Northlake, IL (CHI)
- 1989: Sabbatical
- 1990-2002: St. John Vianney, Northlake, IL (CHI)
- 2002-2011: Residence – Cardinal Stritch Retreat House, Mundelein, IL (CHI)
- 2011: Died
Fr. Joseph Thomas was ordained in 1952. There have been at least 3 separate allegations of sexual abuse made against Fr. Joseph Thomas. When questioned by the Archdiocese of Chicago about the allegations against him, Fr. Thomas admitted to sexually abusing at least two of the victims when they were minors. Fr. Thomas was removed from ministry and moved to Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein, Illinois, with several other priests accused of sexually abusing minors. According to his priest file, Fr. Thomas frequently spent time with his niece’s young children. Despite being under restrictions, Fr. Thomas often went off on his own, including trips to children’s toy stores. Fr. Thomas is included on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s list of “Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Minors.”