Naperville priest investigated
A Catholic priest who last served as a pastor at Saints Peter and Paul church in Naperville has been placed on indefinite leave following “credible” accusations of sexual abuse of a minor more than 20 years ago, the Diocese of Joliet said.
The Rev. James Nowak, 75, served as pastor and assistant pastor in six different parishes in the diocese since his ordination in 1967.
A Joliet diocese spokesman said the diocese still is trying to determine where and exactly when the alleged abuse occurred. It did not happen while Nowak was at Saints Peter and Paul, officials said.
Nowak served as assistant pastor at Sacred Heart in Lombard from 1967 to 1971 and as assistant pastor at St. Andrew’s in Romeoville from 1971 to 1974.
He studied in Rome from 1974 to 1976, served in the Marriage Tribunal office in Joliet from 1976 to 1988, was pastor at St. Anthony’s in Joliet from 1988 to 1993 and was pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Westmont from 1993 to 2002.
He then served as pastor at Saints Peter and Paul in Naperville until his retirement in 2007. Nowak had continued to say Mass in the diocese during retirement until being placed on leave.
Bishop R. Daniel Conlon placed Nowak on temporary administrative leave after determining that “abuse has likely occurred,” according to a statement by the diocese.
Law enforcement authorities have been notified, diocese spokesman Doug Delaney said. And the case will be referred to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome for investigation.
The diocese has heard from one accuser in the Nowak case, Delaney said. The diocese views the allegations as “credible.”
“These matters are investigated by church officials in Rome and their findings will then be reported to the bishop here who will make the final decision,” Delaney said. “At this point, we have no idea how fast this will happen. We learned about the matter very recently and things have moved quickly.” the leak.
Testing on a replacement pipeline that was being installed Thursday will be completed before officials reopen the road.
The section of pipe that burst was removed and was to be studied to determine what happened, said Patrick Hodgins, director of health, safety, security and environmental for the West Shore Pipe Line Co., which owns the pipeline.