Archdiocese of Chicago removes 3 priests amid investigations into 'inappropriate' conduct

Priests came from 2 Chicago churches, 1 Markham church

ByABC 7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Monday, September 6, 2021
3 Chicago-area priests removed from ministry amid investigations
The Archdiocese of Chicago said Saturday that the three priests are stepping aside for relationships with other adults.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Archdiocese of Chicago is removing three priests from ministry, pending investigations into what the church calls "inappropriate" conduct.

In letters to parishioners Saturday, the archdiocese said these priests are stepping aside for relationships with other adults.

The archdiocese said none of the incidents involved children.

RELATED: Father Daniel McCarthy removed from St. Elizabeth of the Trinity amid sexual abuse investigation: Archdiocese of Chicago

The letters also said the priests all acknowledged their behavior.

At Ss. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish in Cragin, former associate Pastor Orlando Flores Orea has been asked to step aside for an alleged relationship with a woman, a letter from the archdiocese said.

The pastor at St. Gerard Majella, St. John the Baptist and Ascension-St. Susana Parish in Markham, Father Pedro Campos, was asked to step aside due to alleged inappropriate behavior with an adult man while Campos was pastor at St. Kevin Parish.

And the pastor at St. Simon Chapel of St. Gall in Gage Park, Father Rene Mena Beltran, was asked to step aside due to alleged inappropriate behavior with an adult man.