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joe jarmoluk - rockford diocese

The Transfer of Another Abusive Priest

- featured in June 2009 -

Ten years ago, Thomas Doran, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford, received word that one of his priests, Mark Campobello, was molesting a student at the parish school of St. Peter Church in Geneva, Illinois. It was most likely not the first time Doran had heard such accusations as Campobello had a long transfer record within the diocese.

Doran's reaction was to terminate Campobello's assignment at Aurora Central Catholic High School in nearby Aurora where he was posing as a teacher, counselor, and spiritual advisor. Campobello had already been quietly removed from the Geneva parish (as the parish was beginning an $8 million fundraising campaign) and was working at least part-time at Mooseheart - a residential school for disadvantaged or underprivileged kids, Kindergarten through high school.

Subsequently, Campobello completed a short stint at St. Luke's Medical Facility in Maryland which was flanked by assignments at various parishes (with schools) throughout the diocese. When Campobello was finally arrested for sexual abuse of a minor in December 2002, he was the parochial administrator at St. James Church in Belvidere, Illinois. (It is customary for bishops to assign child molesters as "parochial administrators" instead of "pastors" because it's easier to transfer them when allegations arise.)

campobello taken into custody

At no parish where Doran placed Campobello - who later pleaded guilty to 8 counts of child sexual abuse of two girls and was sentenced to 8 years in prison - were parishioners informed of the crimes of which their newly-assigned priest was accused. Not a single school-parent was given a heads-up by the diocese that Campobello had a problem keeping his hands off of female students. Given the nature of pedophilia, it is highly likely there are more victims of Mark Campobello other than the two who have come forward - who are suffering in silence because, in part, of the unsafe environment Doran has cultivated and allowed for victims/survivors of clergy sexual assault and abuse.

A main cause of the hostile environment is one Monsignor Joseph Jarmoluk (pictured at top), the current pastor of St. Peter Church in Geneva.

doran in yellow cone-hatmcquillan confronting survivor
Photos from left: Thomas Doran; St. Peter parishioner confronting clergy abuse survivor during an otherwise peaceful protest; "Father" Simon Akan who is currently assigned to St. Patrick Church in St. Charles, Illinois.

When one St. Peter parishioner wrote a letter to a local newspaper, after already contacting the Rockford Diocese directly, and expressed concern that Doran was withholding court-ordered documents from prosecutors in Campobello's criminal trial - to the point of being held in contempt of court - Jarmoluk pressured the parishioner, Frank Bochte of Geneva, to recant his letter. When Bochte refused, Jarmoluk went on a 20-minute tirade and the end of each weekend Mass, shouting out excuses for Doran and calling Bochte a sinner, a liar, and "the Enemy". During at least one Mass, Jarmoluk claimed Bochte's letter was "worse than murder".

Several months earlier, Jarmoluk went on an out-of-control verbal tirade against members of the parish choir which included calling them "sons and daughters of Satan" and despicable people of despicable parents. Shortly thereafter, he fired two employees who belonged to the choir. A large majority of choir members quit overnight, - many leaving the parish, some leaving the Catholic Church. Those who registered at nearby parishes found they had been blacklisted from singing in their new parish's choir.

Threats, bullying, intimidation, manipulation, and lies have been the way of the Jarmoluk administration in Geneva. Jarmoluk sent his attorney, Timothy Canice Rice, around Geneva with formal complaints against parishioners, non-parishioners, public officials, and newspaper editors. Rice wrote a so-called 'Due Diligence' report that was so packed with lies Jarmoluk's own pastoral council refused to support it, yet the current deacon, Mike Sullivan, and his wife disbursed copies of the report outside the rectory after weekend Masses.


The disingenuous "Welcome" sign in front of St. Peter Church in Geneva, Illinois

When all of Jarmoluk's attempts - through Rice - failed, he desperately associated himself with some undesirable characters and a project called, "Forsaken: A Monsignor's Fight to Save his Faith". This scam had Jarmoluk's ring of supporters believing they were filming a documentary about him. They started a web site which included documents stamped "Jarmoluk File" and video footage of Jarmoluk posing in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin, playing the role of a "tortured", "tormented", and "persecuted" priest. His followers took to calling victims' advocates "clergy killers".

The web site also hosts a message board on which many of Jarmoluk's followers - who refer to themselves as FOFJs (to us, Pew Monkeys) - post nasty, vulgar, hateful, slanderous, defamatory, and just plain mean comments about anyone who either expresses support for clergy abuse survivors and their advocates or so much as asks a question regarding Jarmoluk's effectiveness as a leader.

Jarmoluk rewards these ignorant and unkind parishioners with praise, committee assignments and keys to the church (literally). Giving Jarmoluk the "benefit of the doubt" because he was a priest, many parishioners dismiss any complaints about his conduct and quite a few rallied around him, showing their public support through letters to newspapers, a petition defending his altar rant, or the wearing of big "I love being an FOFJ" buttons. As time has gone by, of course, any support he enjoyed at first has dramatically waned.

jarmoluk's mug on his web site
The former home page of the Jarmoluk-supported web site bearing his image.

Bullies are used to people backing down and caving to their demands, especially when those bullies are priests (bishops included). At St. Peter in Geneva, those bullied by Joe Jarmoluk didn't back down. Not after he screamed at them; not after he fired them; not after he threatened to sue them; not after he defamed them; not after he anonymously attacked them on his internet blog; not after he sent his brain-dead Kool-Aid drinkers out to stalk and harass them; not after he instructed congregants to shun them.

Now, thanks to Thomas Doran, Joe Jarmoluk will be free to start all over again at another parish, with unsuspecting Catholics who will probably give him the "benefit of the doubt" because of the style of collar he wears. (We have heard from Jarmoluk's previously-assigned parish of cruel and outrageous conduct on his part there, as well.) But, in Geneva, a community that has felt the negative effects of Jarmoluk's inept and abusive leadership, those who have been harmed and abused by him in any way can - in their own way - consider themselves 'survivors'!

all smiles at the ground-breakingjarmoluk at the parish
Jarmoluk, Doran and others are all smiles at the ground-breaking ceremony of the $8 million parish expansion; Jarmoluk in a rare moment with parish children at the "Luau".

We would like to tip our hats to all of the St. Peter parishioners and Geneva residents who weren't so blind and spiritually immature to think a priest - even one who charmed them - could do no wrong or that "Good Catholics" should turn a blind eye when he does offend. We have great respect for those parishioners who stood up to the injustices at the parish by either withholding donations, writing letters to the editor, or speaking out when Jarmoluk tried so hard to silence everyone. We are especially grateful for all who helped show support for the two brave young women who exposed Campobello and to former St. Peter teacher, Barbara Houston, for being so persistent until he was finally arrested and eventually jailed.

We are also very pleased that so many parishioners whose first inclination may have been to side with members of the clergy proved to be open-minded enough to 'See the Light' when presented with facts and the truth. The truth is often a tough and painful pill to swallow and it takes a lot of courage to allow oneself to admit they were betrayed by someone they trusted and even loved. We understand and appreciate that journey.

jarmoluk followers sounding stupidhangman's noose
A few of the proud FOFJs, from left: Maureen Pott, Joan Benedetto, Ray Benedetto, Angela Pavelich, and Debbie Nelson. Benedetto called a press conference to declare St. Peter parish was "united" even though only five members showed up. At right is a picture of a hangman's noose that was posted on the message board of Jarmoluk's web site with the caption, "It hangs for thee...14, referring to a group of Geneva citizens who spoke out publicly in support of clergy abuse survivors.

It is important to add that, other than Campobello's courtroom plea of "Guilty", not a single offender on this page has ever apologized for the offenses they have committed against innocent people. In 2006, Doran ordered Jarmoluk to apologize to those he has offended, to fire his attorney, and to disassociate with his "Forsaken" web site. Jarmoluk retained Rice a short time after he claimed to have fired him, his participation with the web site continues to date, and every Catholic knows that a blanket "I'm sorry for all the mistakes I have ever made in my life" during a liturgy hardly meets the requirements for Repentance and Reconciliation. There was apparently no consequence from the diocese for Jarmoluk's defiance of the bishop's precepts.

We extend our prayers to the people of St. Peter Church in Spring Grove*, Illinois as well as with the parishioners of whichever church has the misfortune of Fr. Simon Akan's placement.

*In the world of Catholic dioceses, it is quite a demotion for a monsignor to be assigned to a parish without a school located in a town of 5,000 people after twelve years at one of the largest and most income-generating parishes in the diocese with a school. Though Jarmoluk named his dog 'Bishop', he is not likely to see that title printed before his own name any time soon.

"Be on your guard against false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but underneath are wolves on the prowl.  You will know them by their deeds.  None of those who cry 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.  When that day comes, many will plead with me, 'Lord, Lord,' have we not prophesied in your name?  Have we not exorcised demons by its power?  Did we not do many miracles in your name as well?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you.  Out of my sight, you evildoers'." - Matthew 7:15-16,21-25

No Human is Worthy of Blind Trust

newspaper cartoon of st. peter church
"Father?... You can come out now... The tornadoes are gone."
"Those aren't the storms that I fear."
This cartoon ran in a local newspaper during the height of the St. Peter scandal in 2004.

Read newspaper articles and letters by clicking on the links in the column at left.

Food for Thought: From a Former Friend of Mark Campobello

Read Synopsis of Doran's leadership here.

Read over 200 newspaper articles and letters regarding the parish here.

Are you a Pew Monkey? see no evil monkeys Take our Quiz here.

Read an anonymous letter sent to certain Geneva residents here.

Read some of St. Peter's financial information here.

Read a timeline of events at St. Peter parish here.

Read Notable Quotes from the St. Peter Saga here.

Read our Q & A regarding St. Peter here.

Read a Fact Sheet on Timothy Canice Rice here.

Read "Father" Akan's B.S. letter to parishioners here.

For more information, visit our One Parish section here.


Our Featured Video Link:

The St. Peter of Geneva New Parishioner Video


Watch other Video Clips linked on our site here.

Our Featured Quotes:

"...the release of voice mails that are communications between a parishioner and their pastor contradicts every ethical and moral standard we promote at the USCCB." - a representative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' legal department after being informed that Monsignor Joe Jarmoluk and "Father" Simon Akan shared private voicemail left for them by parishioners two years prior for the purpose of having them broadcasted on an internet web site supported by Jarmoluk.

"But how, I ask, does it happen that the saints, who live only for God, resist their ordination through a sense of their unworthiness, and that some run blindly to the priesthood, and rest not until they attain it by lawful or unlawful means? Ah. Unhappy men!  Says St. Bernard, to be registered among the priests of God shall be for them the same as to be enrolled on the catalogue of the damned.  And why?  Because such persons are generally called to the priesthood, not by God, but by relatives, by interest, or ambition." -St. Alphonsus De Liguori

"You are in charge of the garden of the Holy Church. So uproot from the garden the stinking weeds full of impurity and avarice and bloated with pride. I mean the evil pastors and administrators who poison and corrupt the garden... Use your authority, you who are in charge of us" - Catherine of Siena, to Pope Gregory XI

??? - Our Featured Question - ???

money basket

When are Roman Catholics going to demand ethical and competent leadership and why the hell do they keep giving money when the men at the controls of the Church engage in evil acts, such as hiding the sexual abuse of children so it doesn't interfere with the current fundraiser?

Inquiring minds want to know.

For the Love of Money

dollar bill with red heart on it

Read one Catholic couple's letter expressing their concern that their pastor, Joe Jarmoluk, was ignoring accusations of child molestation in order to protect the parish's image during a multi-million fundraising campaign.

Click on titles below to read articles or letters.

(Documents are listed in chronological order.)

Suspect, victim's family at same Mass. Family of Andrea Will shocked to learn Boulay was at church

2003 letter to St. Peter parishioners from Jarmoluk and the parish finance council, informing of a significant decrease in collections and the need for more donations.

Legal situation spurs concern at church (Frank Bochte's first letter to the Daily Herald)

Church in no position to be casting stones (Chicago Tribune's John Kass' column)

Group asks bishop to take action; Punishment of Geneva priest sought

Petition urges Geneva church to stop 'cover-up'

Tensions at Geneva church reach boiling point

Choir leader charged in killing. Man suspected in 1999 stabbing directed Easter Mass in Geneva

Blind Faith

Consultant: Clergy abuse is a 'violation of the community'

A matter of discourse (written by Barbara Houston, teacher who reported abuse)

Former choir director found guilty of murder; West Chicago man killed lover five years ago, New York jury decides

Geneva's Catholic church needs real leadership

Sheepish flock abets the Catholic church

Pastor to seek parish's pardon. Bishop orders Geneva priest to ask forgiveness, fire attorney

Zeal to defend priest takes wrong turn

Looking for faith healing. St. Peter parish still reeling from 1999 priest-abuse scandal

Monsignor must give deposition

St. Peter's members hold press conference in defense of parish. Campobello case: Rev. Jarmoluk's lawyer shot down in attempt to sanction another attorney

No leadership shown

$2.2M deal OK'd in church sex-abuse suit: Mark Campobello, jailed in 2004, was ministering in Geneva and Aurora at the time of the incidents

An Open Message to Thomas Doran and to all Catholic bishops:


Abusive priests do not need a new parish and new potential victims.

A "change of scenery" will not change their behavior.

The first step in healing and recovery is an honest acknowledgement of the sins/crimes that have been committed.

The second step in healing is a direct and sincere apology to those who have been harmed.

No healing will occur at any parish or in any relationship until those first two steps are properly completed.

Lastly, you have no one to blame but yourselves to for the current wretched state of the Roman Catholic Church.

May God have mercy on you come Judgment Day.

We encourage any Catholics or non-Catholics concerned about the men assigned to their parish or neighborhood to express those concerns directly to the bishop of their local diocese with a pledge to withhold donations until conditions improve.

Contact the police or DCFS for any concerns of criminal acts.

If the bishop ignores you, you can get always contact the media or write a letter to your local newspaper. (Bishops hate that!)

Predators must be exposed!

sketch of st peter church
One Parish

A click on the image above will take you to a section on our web site all about St. Peter Church in Geneva, Illinois. Unfortunately, the troubles at St. Peter are not unique but reflective of what is going on a Catholic parishes throughout the United States and beyond.

Pew Monkey Maureen PottPew Monkey Angela Pavelichwillard pottPew Monkey Debbie Nelson
Some Catholics choose to ignore the commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you".

 

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