A former Catholic priest, James M. Ray—who has been accused of sexually abusing at least 13 minors—has made a striking allegation implicating Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Prevost, in a decision that placed him in proximity to children despite serious misconduct claims.
Prevost, recently elected as the new Pope, previously served as the head of the Midwest Province of the Catholic Church’s Augustinian order.
During his tenure, he reportedly authorized Ray’s relocation to a monastery in Hyde Park, Chicago, which was situated less than one block away from St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School and directly adjacent to a childcare center.
In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Ray stated unequivocally, “He’s the one who gave me permission to stay there.”
This assertion has emerged as part of a broader reexamination of Prevost’s leadership and accountability in past abuse-related cases within the Church.
Ray had already been accused of sexual abuse at the time of his move and had been placed under “limited ministry with restrictions” by the Archdiocese of Chicago as early as 1990.
Despite this, he continued working in multiple parishes until the year 2000, when Church officials sought housing arrangements that would mitigate the potential risk he posed to the public.
Ultimately, Ray was allowed to reside at the St. John Stone Friary for two years—located near vulnerable populations—without informing the nearby school or childcare facility of his presence. Internal documents, cited by the Sun-Times, falsely stated “there was no school in the immediate area,” a claim now proven inaccurate.
Ray, who was never criminally convicted and does not appear on any public sex offender registry, claimed he needed a new residence because his prior dwelling was slated for demolition.
He alleged that officials within the Archdiocese—specifically the vicar for priests reporting to the late Cardinal Francis George—reached out to religious communities for housing on his behalf, and only the Augustinians responded.
The final decision, according to Ray, rested with Prevost, who allegedly approved the arrangement.
Supporting this, Ray referenced internal paperwork and conversations with Rev. James Thompson, a now-deceased Augustinian priest who monitored Ray during his stay at the friary.
Church officials at the time justified not notifying school administrators by arguing that Ray was under close supervision. However, this rationale is now under scrutiny, especially as legal representatives for the Augustinians attempt to redirect responsibility.
Michael Airdo, counsel for the order, claimed the late Cardinal George and Thompson bore the true responsibility, asserting that then-Provincial Prevost merely agreed to Ray’s residence based on standard guest housing terms and had no role in approving or vetting the move.
Ray remained at the friary until Church reforms mandated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops required that priests with credible abuse allegations be kept physically distant from minors. That same year, in 2002, Ray was removed from public ministry amid the fallout of The Boston Globe’s groundbreaking investigation into sexual abuse in the Church. He was formally defrocked in 2012.
Ray has expressed continued spiritual conviction, despite the allegations. “I felt abandoned by the Church, but never by God,” he stated.
He described his daily life as one of faith, though admitted that reminders of the accusations caused him emotional distress. When confronted about his past, he acknowledged wrongdoing but attempted to minimize its severity, saying, “On a scale of 1 to 10, I was wrong, but it was a 1 or maybe a half.”
Church documents publicly released in 2014 revealed disturbing patterns in Ray’s behavior, including inappropriate contact with boys aged 10 to 18.
Reports detailed how Ray built close relationships with families, eventually progressing to acts of mutual physical contact and masturbation. In one particularly egregious admission, Ray confessed to masturbating a paraplegic man during a trip to Medjugorje in 1993.
A 2023 report from the Illinois Attorney General identified Ray as having sexually abused at least 13 minors.
This incident is not the only time Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has faced criticism for his handling of abuse allegations.
During his leadership of the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru (2014–2023), he was accused of failing to initiate formal investigations into allegations against two priests.
Victims claimed their reports were downplayed or buried by diocesan officials, hindering Vatican intervention.
Though Prevost eventually met with the accusers and encouraged them to seek justice through civil channels, the Church’s internal probe stalled due to lack of evidence and expired statutes of limitation.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said they made the cardinals aware of Prevost’s alleged inaction prior to the conclave that elected him Pope.
“This person will be scrutinized from left to right,” said Lopez de Casas, SNAP’s national vice president. “That’s helpful for victims everywhere because we now have a pope who will be under the public eye for his past.”
In a 2023 interview with Vatican Media, Prevost acknowledged the Church’s moral responsibility in abuse cases. “Silence is not the solution,” he said. “We must be transparent and honest, because otherwise their wounds will never heal.”
Despite the controversy, Ray spoke favorably about Prevost’s elevation, describing the new papacy as bringing “very positive vibes overall.”
As Pope Leo XIV begins his papal tenure, these unresolved questions about his past decisions are likely to cast a long shadow, rekindling calls for accountability and transparency within the highest ranks of the Catholic Church.
