A former Loyola Academy president has been removed from active church ministry for what a superior describes as “an inappropriate relationship” with an 18-year-old student at the school.
A former Loyola Academy president has been removed from active church ministry for what a superior describes as “an inappropriate relationship” with an 18-year-old student at the school.
In a letter to Loyola parents and alumni, the schools’ current president, the Rev. Patrick McGrath, and board chairman, James Hickey, say the relationship occurred during the period Reuter was president of the school, from 1975 to 1990.
The decision to remove Reuter, the letter says, was made by the Rev. Timothy Kesicki, who was named head of the Jesuit provinces of Chicago and Detroit last year.
It quotes him as saying the decision was based on his review of existing personnel files “in keeping with our ongoing commitment to address any inappropriate or unethical conduct on the part of any of our members.”
The letter doesn’t indicate when the religious order first learned of the alleged misconduct, but says church officials “directly met and worked toward reconciliation with” the victim.
The Catholic school in Wilmette, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, draws a number of students from Evanston. It was an all-boys school until going co-educational in 1994.
In the letter McGrath and Hickey say “we are heartbroken by this violation of trust by a former member of our community.” The letter urges anyone abused by an adult while at the school to report the incident to law enforcement authorities and the school, no matter how long ago the incident occurred.