Priest who served Aurora parishes arrested for sexual abuse of minor

Chronicle Media
Rev. Alfredo Pedraza

Rev. Alfredo Pedraza

A priest who had spent time in two Aurora parishes was arrested on Thursday by authorities for two counts of alleged sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 13 years old.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford said on Thursday it had been informed of the arrest of the Rev. Alfredo Pedraza by Kane County Sheriff’s Police and the U.S. Marshal’s Office.

Pedraza was arrested at his Rockford residence.

According to a statement from the Rockford diocese, Pedraza had been under investigation for two allegations reported to authorities and the diocese.

After the first allegation was reported — at an unspecified date — Pedraza was asked to remove himself from all priestly ministry and from Hispanic Ministry duties in the DeKalb County Deanery he was assigned at the time the first allegation was received, according to the diocese.

He has been out of all ministries since Oct. 30, 2014.

“As we have during the investigation process, the Rockford Diocese remains in full cooperation with authorities,” Rockford Catholic officials said in the statement. “While everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the Rockford Diocese takes allegations of misconduct in any form very seriously and must act accordingly to insure the safety and security of all our Catholic people as we conduct our worship and ministries together.”

Pedraza came to the Rockford Diocese from Colombia in 2013.

During his time with the diocese, he worked in Hispanic Ministry in the DeKalb Deanery and assisted at Sacred Heart Parish in Aurora and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Aurora.

The diocese said it encouraged anyone who might be, or knows someone that has been, a victim of sexual abuse by a member of the diocesan clergy, religious, church employee or volunteer should first call police, then call the diocesan hotline at (815) 293-7540.

Diocese of Rockford

 

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