A priest from Mexico, identified as the Rev. Ernest Tovar-Trejo, has been accused of sexually assaulting a child during visits to Chicago many years ago. Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago disclosed this information in a letter to the congregation of St. José Sánchez Del Rio Parish, which was reported by NBC Chicago. Tovar-Trejo has been to Chicago "short periods in past years" and was found to have celebrated mass at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church without "proper permission."
The letter from Cupich, which does not specify the date or location of the alleged assault, mentioned that the Archdiocese is actively working with the Diocese of Tampico to thoroughly investigate the allegation. The Mexican diocese has communicated that Tovar-Trejo is now prohibited from ministering as a priest, according to details Cupich provided in his correspondence.
CBS News Chicago reported that the person who made the allegation was offered support from the Chicago Archdiocese's Victim Assistance Ministry. This indicates a move by the diocese to provide care and support to individuals who come forward with such claims.
The Archdiocese of Chicago, under Cupich's guidance, has a history of confronting allegations against its clergy, listing over 160 clerics as credibly accused of child sex offenses on a publicly available online registry. This latest allegation continues to challenge the Catholic community in its efforts to decisively address and rectify past abuses and prevent future incidents. The cooperation between the Chicago and Tampico dioceses appears to be an attempt to conduct a transparent investigation into the claims against Father Tovar-Trejo.
