The Catholic Church is once again under intense scrutiny, but this time, the spotlight is on its newly appointed leader.
Robert Prevost, who just became the new pope earlier this month, is now facing serious accusations related to how he handled past sexual abuse allegations within the Church.
These claims come from a former priest who says Prevost ignored warning signs and allowed a troubled clergyman to live close to children despite known accusations.
Former Priest James Ray Breaks Silence
James M. Ray, a defrocked priest himself, has accused Prevost of giving the green light for him to move into a monastery near a Catholic elementary school in Hyde Park, Chicago—even though Ray had already been accused of abusing children.
Ray told the Chicago Sun-Times that Prevost “gave me permission to stay there.”
This is particularly alarming because Ray’s record shows he had been restricted since 1990 due to multiple sexual abuse allegations.
Staying Close to Children Despite Warnings
Despite these restrictions, Ray worked in three different parishes and, in 2000, the Archdiocese of Chicago stepped in to help him find housing where he wouldn’t pose a risk.
However, he ended up living for two years at the St. John Stone Friary—just steps away from St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School and a childcare center.
Shockingly, neither the school nor the childcare center was informed about Ray’s move, and church officials incorrectly claimed there was no school nearby.
How Did Ray End Up at the Friary?
Ray explained that his previous residence was being torn down, so he needed a new place to stay.
According to him, the Archdiocese’s vicar for priests, who reported to the late Cardinal Francis George, asked church organizations if they had available housing.
Ray claims the Augustinians, led by Prevost, were the only group to respond, and Prevost gave the final approval.
Documents back up Ray’s statement, showing that Rev. James Thompson, who monitored Ray at the monastery, confirmed Prevost’s approval in paperwork.
Ray was supposed to be closely supervised at the friary, which is why church officials at the time say they didn’t notify the nearby school.
Church Officials Try to Shift Responsibility
Now, Michael Airdo, a longtime lawyer for the Augustinians in Chicago, seems to be trying to distance Prevost from the decision.
He says it was Cardinal George and Thompson who were responsible, insisting Prevost’s role was simply to accept a guest at the house, while Thompson had exclusive control over new residents.
Ray stayed at the monastery until new U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops rules forced accused priests to live far away from children.
Around the same time, after the explosive Boston Globe reports on the Church abuse scandal, Ray was removed from public ministry and, in 2012, defrocked.
Ray’s Troubling Past Comes to Light
In 2012, Cardinal George released internal files detailing Ray’s victims, whose ages ranged from 10 to 18.
The documents revealed disturbing accounts of Ray’s inappropriate behavior, including giving back rubs that led to mutual masturbation.
In one 1993 incident during a trip to Medjugorje, Ray admitted to an inappropriate act involving a paraplegic man.
Illinois authorities in 2023 confirmed Ray molested at least 13 children.
When confronted, Ray downplayed the allegations but later admitted, “I was wrong,” though he insisted the victim was an adult over 20.
Still, the pain caused by these accusations is evident whenever they come up, he said.
Prevost’s Troubling Track Record
This isn’t the first time Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has been accused of ignoring abuse allegations.
When he led the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru from 2014 to 2023, reports surfaced that the diocese downplayed abuse claims and withheld documentation from the Vatican, preventing action against accused priests.
A Catholic news outlet reported that Prevost met with victims in 2022 and encouraged them to go to civil authorities while the Church’s own investigation stalled due to a lack of evidence and expired statutes of limitations.
Advocacy Groups Prepare for Increased Scrutiny
Survivors’ groups worked hard to inform the 135 cardinals who elected Prevost about his alleged inaction.
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) national vice president Lopez de Casas said the new pope will be under intense public scrutiny for his past.
“That’s helpful for victims everywhere,” he said, hoping this increased attention will bring more transparency.
Prevost’s Public Statements on Abuse
In a 2023 interview, Prevost emphasized the need for openness, saying, “Silence is not the solution.”
He called for transparency and honesty, adding that without it, victims’ wounds would never heal. “There is a great responsibility in this, for all of us,” he said.