Father Anthony Ross
Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained: 1972
Removed: 2002
Assignment History:
- Cathedral of St. Raymond (Joliet, IL)
- St. Isidore Catholic (Bloomingdale, IL)
- Sacred Heart Catholic (Lombard, IL)
- St. John the Baptist (Winfield, IL)
- St. Peter the Apostle (Itasca, IL)
- St. Charles Borromeo (Bensenville, IL)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Anthony Ross:
Fr. Anthony Ross was originally ordained a priest for the Diocese of Joliet in 1972, who served in multiple dioceses including in the Diocese of Santa Rosa. According to media reports, he was accused of allegedly sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy in 1981 in Joliet, Illinois. The abuse occurred twice, once at St. Peter Church in Itasca and once at a cabin in Lake Geneva. His victim had letters he had received from Fr. Ross, which the boy’s parents found in 1983. They confronted the bishop at the time, and Ross admitted the abuse. He was sent to treatment, then returned to Joliet. The victim’s family discovered in 1993 that Fr. Ross was still in ministry. Ross subsequently moved to the Santa Rosa Diocese in 1997.
In 2002, the victim came forward again and reported the 1981 abuse to the Diocese of Santa Rosa. Fr. Ross was then permanently removed from ministry. His name was included on a list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse released by the Diocese of Santa Rosa in January of 2019.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Santa Rosa in California. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in one of California’s Catholic dioceses, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Santa Rosa now have legal options due to a temporary change in California law, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in California and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us toll-free at 888-283-9922 [email protected] to discuss your options today.