St. Bernadette pastor resigns amid sexual abuse claim
The former pastor of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Evergreen Park is “residing in a private setting away from the parish” after being removed from the ministry amid allegations he engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor more than 30 years ago, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The Rev. Gary M. Miller resigned as pastor of St. Bernadette on June 30 after the archdiocese received the allegation that he abused the minor while assigned to St. Leonard Parish in Berwyn in the 1970s, archdiocese spokeswoman Colleen Dolan said Tuesday.
She had no further details about the age or gender of the victim or how Miller came in contact with the victim, other than it happened while he was serving at St. Leonard.
“The Archdiocese’s Independent Review Board determined there is reasonable cause to suspect that sexual abuse of a minor had occurred and recommended that Fr. Miller be withdrawn from ministry,” according to a statement from the archdiocese.
Dolan said Miller was removed from ministry last week, but she said she did not know where he is now.
“He is out of the parish and he’s out of the ministry,” Dolan said.
Kathy Zawisza lives in a house across the street from St. Bernadette Catholic Academy at 9311 S. Francisco. Her grandson goes to school there and she supports the parish with a yard sign in her front lawn.
She said Tuesday she “wouldn’t think twice,” about sending her grandson there regardless of the claims against Miller.
“I don’t necessarily believe it, but it doesn’t have to do with the school,” Zawisza said. “Why take it out on the rest of the school?”
Maureen Panatera, who teaches in the school’s afterschool program, said the news was saddening.
“I feel bad for whatever happened and the people it happened to,” Panatera said.
Jay Carr, a parent of a second-grader at the school, said that parish officials have been “hush hush” about releasing details to parents.
“To tell you the truth, there’s so many stories with the Catholic schools that you hear all the time,” Carr said. “You don’t know what to be- lieve.”
Allen Young has girls in eighth grade and third grade at the school. He said he is worried that Miller continued as a priest and was pastor at St. Bernadette so long — years after the alleged incident took place.
Barbara Blaine, president of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said she had not heard of allegations against Miller until he resigned.
Still, Blaine said she was disappointed with the archdiocese’s handling of his case and wanted to know where Miller has been since he resigned. She also said Cardinal Francis George should personally stop by all the parishes where Miller worked to encourage potential victims to come forward.
“I think Cardinal George made a promise to do better and he’s not living up to the promise,” Blaine said.