David Ryan (pastor)

**David Ryan** is a former pastor at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Parish in Lake Zurich, Illinois. He began his pastoral career in 1979 in central and southern Illinois before moving to the Chicago area and being incardinated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.

In 2020 and 2022, Ryan was accused of a series of sexual assaults on children in his care originating from his work at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines. Ryan was investigated by the Archdiocese of Chicago twice and was acquitted on both occasions.

## Biography

David Francis Ryan attended Our Savior Grade School in Jacksonville, Illinois. After graduating from Routt Catholic High School, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in history at Quincy University, then studied priesthood at Kenrick Seminary (now Kenrick-Glennon Seminary) in St. Louis, Missouri.

### Pastoral career

On June 2, 1979, Ryan was ordained into priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Illinois. He conducted his first Mass in his hometown of Jacksonville, and was then assigned as an associate pastor at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Godfrey. In 1982, Ryan became an assistant executive director at the Catholic Children's Home in Alton, while continuing work with the Diocese of Springfield. For four years, Ryan was a teacher and sports chaplain at Marquette Catholic High School.

In 1985, Ryan moved to the Chicago area, where he became an assistant director at Maryville Academy, a child care organization in Des Plaines. He worked closely alongside the organization's director, Reverend John Smyth, for the next 20 years. In 1989, Ryan was incardinated by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin to the Archdiocese of Chicago, and two years later, was appointed as an assistant director for the archdiocese's Catholic Youth Organization. Ryan attended Loyola University Chicago and obtained a master's degree in social work in 1994. In 1996, he received a master's degree in business administration from University of Chicago. In 2003, Ryan was promoted to executive director at Maryville Academy.

In 2005, Ryan was assigned as a parochial administrator at St. Emily Catholic Church in Mount Prospect. On July 1, 2006, Ryan became a priest at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lake Zurich.

## Initial sexual misconduct allegations

> `Further reading: Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Chicago [Wikipedia]`
>
>

In early 2019, John Smyth, former director of Maryville Academy, was accused of sexually abusing children who were housed in his care. He was removed from his church, and died shortly thereafter. Investigations into his alleged abuse were opened, and similar ones would be opened into David Ryan's past the following year.

In November 2020, the Cook County State's Attorney received accusations that Ryan had sexually abused minors in the mid-1990s when he was teaching at Maryville Academy. In light of this, Ryan was asked to step down from his pastoral career as the Archdiocese of Chicago's independent review board investigated the claims. In his absence, Jerome Jacob, a pastor at a church in Mundelein, was assigned as St. Francis's temporary administrator.

A meeting on August 21, 2021 concluded that the accusations were unfounded, and on September 9, Ryan was reinstated as a pastor at St. Francis. New evidence supporting the allegations was subsequently brought forward, which resulted in a new investigation. Archbishop of Chicago Blase Cupich wrote a letter to the St. Francis congregation, which read in part:

> `"I share your disappointment at this news, especially as I know plans were being made to welcome Father Ryan back this weekend. But I ask your patience once again as we fulfill our obligation to keep the children entrusted to us safe and proceed in a way that serves the cause of justice for all concerned."`
> `- Blase Cupich, September 2021`
>
>

The new evidence was ultimately dismissed. Ryan was again reinstated on November 20.

## Further allegations

On September 16, 2022, the Archdiocese of Chicago received two more reports of sexual misconduct on a minor at the hands of Ryan. The next day, Cupich wrote another letter to St. Francis parishioners, informing them that a new investigation was opened into Ryan's past and that he was again asked to step down. The statement read in part:

> `“We have appreciated your patience with this process in the past and your understanding that only with an impartial and thorough effort can we fulfill our duty to protect the young people in our care and, if the investigation warrants, restore the good name of the one so accused."`
> `- Blase Cupich, September 17, 2022`
>
>

On February 11, 2023, Ryan was again reinstated after the investigation concluded that there was not enough evidence to support the abuse allegations. Cupich stated that his accusers failed to cooperate with the investigators.

## Citations

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://www.stfrancislzparish.org/pastors-message
2. ↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/minister-or-monster-more-accusers-of-maryville-academys-john-smyth-step-forward/
3. ↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/john-smyth-sexual-abuse-lawsuit/
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2022/09/17/pastor-at-lake-zurich-church-once-again-asked-to-step-away-following-new-child-sex-abuse-allegations/
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/9/17/23358665/investigation-rev-david-ryan-reopened-a-year-allegations-of-sexual-assault-of-a-minor-were-unfounded
6. ↑ https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2020/11/29/pastor-at-lake-zurich-school-church-asked-to-step-away-following-child-sex-abuse-investigation/
7. ↑ https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/9/9/22665332/father-david-ryan-reinstated-pastor-francis-de-sales-lake-zurich-sexual-abuse-allegations-unfounded
8. ↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/with-new-information-obtained-return-of-rev-david-ryan-to-parish-in-lake-zurich-delayed-after-he-was-cleared-of-sex-abuse-claim/
9. ↑ https://www.chicagocatholic.com/chicagoland/-/article/2021/12/01/archdiocese-reinstates-father-david-ryan
10. ↑ https://www.archchicago.org/en/statement/-/article/2022/09/17/letter-from-cardinal-blase-j-cupich-archbishop-of-chicago-on-father-david-ry-1
11. ↑ https://www.chicagocatholic.com/chicagoland/-/article/2023/02/15/father-david-ryan-reinstated-at-st-francis-de-sales-parish