A retired priest, who previously served at several parishes in Chicago and the northern suburbs, is now under investigation for allegations of sexual abuse involving a minor in India, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The allegations, dating back approximately 60 years, concern Father Denis Manuel Carneiro, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Bhopal in India. Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, informed local parishes about the situation through letters.
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In these communications, Cardinal Cupich detailed the timeline of Father Carneiro’s residency at various parishes: Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Chicago from July 1972 to May 1974, April 1979 to June 1979, and July 1989 to June 1999; Holy Family Parish in Inverness from June 1999 to July 2002; and St. Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove from June 2004 to August 2004, November 2009 to May 2013, and June 2013 to the present.
Father Carneiro also held the position of chaplain at Ascension St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, from 1999 to 2002, as noted by Cupich.
“Adhering to our child protection protocols, I have revoked Father Carneiro’s authorization to minister and instructed him to relocate away from parish premises. Although he vehemently denies the accusation, he has complied with this directive. The matter has been communicated to the Archdiocese of Bhopal, which is tasked with leading the investigation,” Cardinal Cupich stated in the letter. “Additionally, consistent with our child protection policies, we have contacted the individual making the allegation and have reported the claim to the civil authorities.”
The Archdiocese of Chicago has refrained from offering additional specifics regarding the allegations of abuse.
