Robert Boley Sexual Abuse Allegations

Primary Entity Name: Robert Boley
Common Variations / Aliases: Father Boley
Role/Title at Time of Incident: Carmelite Priest
Current Status: Listed with substantiated allegations; limited ministry and oversight imposed

This page covers the documented assignments, allegations, and institutional actions involving Father Boley and claims of childhood abuse in the Catholic Church.

Father Boley, a disgraced priest from the Carmelite religious order, has been accused of sexually abusing children while serving at various institutions, including Cyril School in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Allegations against Boley include repeated abuse of minors under his supervision, revealing a devastating betrayal of trust and a failure by officials to protect vulnerable children. These cases have led to lawsuits, settlements, and ongoing scrutiny of the church’s role in enabling abuse.

At Injury Lawyer Team, we are committed to supporting survivors of clergy sex abuse in their pursuit of justice. Survivors deserve accountability from their abusers and the institutions that failed to protect them. We understand that a client endured unspeakable abuse. 

A Chicago clergy abuse attorney from our team will fight tirelessly to ensure survivors receive the compensation and closure they need to heal.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Father Robert Boley was a Carmelite priest who often worked in the Catholic Church. His positions involved direct contact with children, and he worked at Cyril Catholic School on Woodlawn Ave in Chicago. He worked at other institutions within the Archdiocese of Chicago, in Canada, Kentucky, California, and various other locations. As a priest and educator, he was entrusted with supervising and guiding children, but wound up sexually assaulting them instead. 

He was publicly listed following investigations by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and reporting by survivor advocacy organizations, including BishopAccountability.org. The archdiocese and Catholic officials identified him due to credible complaints of sexual assaults of minor children in school settings. The documented allegations and devastating impact prompted diocesan action and subsequent reporting.

Key Status Facts

• Ordination year: 1975
• Years in active ministry: 1971-2006
• Locations where he served: Schools and parishes in Los Angeles and Chicago areas, including the Chicago church, a Catholic school in Woodlawn, the Diocese of Joliet, and more religious establishments throughout America and Canada. 
• Restrictions placed: Required participation in psychological treatment; oversight and limits on access to minors
• Removal, resignation, reassignment: Monitored and restricted; later removed from active ministry in 2006 due to allegations that the priest sexually abused minors. 
• Public disclosure/listing: Name appears in diocesan disclosures and survivor advocacy databases. Diocese reports say the first claim was made in 2006. 

Assignment History

He served at multiple religious schools, including Cyril Catholic School, and was affiliated with the Carmelite order. His assignments placed him in positions of trust and close contact with minor children, where multiple survivors later reported instances of sex abuse. One reported that he frequently called her a bad child and would sexually abuse her because he said she was a bad child. 

The Archdiocese of Chicago and California

Assignments also included parishes in Los Angeles and Chicago, reflecting a ministry focused on education and pastoral care, though supervision was insufficient to prevent misconduct.

Moving Around Made Childhood Sexual Abuse Easier

Boley was a member of the Carmelite religious order, Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. However, he often used his status as a priest of the Most Pure Heart of Mary to secure one position after another, from the Archdiocese of Chicago to religious establishments in Canada. Many assignments only lasted 2-3 years, and there are gaps in employment during which no one knows where Boley worked. 

The Cyril Catholic School, a Catholic School in Woodlawn, Chicago Archdiocese, and More Sex Abuse Cases

His documented work and assignment history include:

• Various locations (early 1970s): Ontario (Canada), Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Joliet (Illinois).
• Los Angeles, CA (1976-1988): Served at Mount Carmel High School (1976), Mount Carmel Priory (1976-1988), and St. Raphael’s Parish (1979-1988).
• Chicago, IL (1987-1989): Assigned to the now-closed St. Clara-St. Cyril Parish and School, where he taught.
• Unknown location (1989): History notes an unknown assignment.
• Louisville, KY (1990-1994): Served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
• Darien, IL (1995-1999): Worked at the Carmelite Fathers Provincial House.
• Englewood, NJ (2000-2002): Served at St. Cecilia’s Church.
• Darien, IL (2003-2006): Worked as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office and other investigations have identified Boley among Illinois priests with credible allegations of abuse. These findings underscore the church’s systemic failures to address complaints and safeguard future generations from harm properly.

While Chicago recognized the physical and spiritual harm caused, Robert Boley does not have a record of criminal charges. Instead, there are reports that he was put on a safety plan. 

Known Allegations

Survivors report that he repeatedly abused at least two children during school assignments, describing the acts as abuse. Allegations include sexual misconduct occurring during the school year, targeting minors in classroom and extracurricular settings. 

Church records indicate the allegations were deemed credible by diocesan review, resulting in oversight and restrictions. Reports show Boley abused children in multiple locations and instances, highlighting failures to prevent clergy sexual abuse adequately.

• Overseeing Authority: Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Archdiocese of Chicago
  Associated Organizations: Carmelite religious order, Catholic schools in Illinois and California
  Legal/Advocacy Bodies Referenced: Illinois Attorney General’s Office, BishopAccountability.org

Survivors of Boley’s abuse have filed lawsuits against him and the church, alleging negligence and misconduct. These cases highlight the failure of church leaders to act despite credible allegations.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and other dioceses have reached settlements with clergy victims, including the $1.75 million case involving Boley. These settlements provide financial restitution for survivors while acknowledging the church’s role in enabling abuse.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office has investigated clergy cases, including those involving this man. The office’s findings have shed light on the church’s failure to adequately address allegations from abuse victims and provide appropriate psychological treatment for abusive priests.

Institutional Actions and Priest Sexual Abuse Review

Following the allegations, catholic officials imposed oversight on Boley and required participation in appropriate psychological treatment designed to prevent another sex abuse case. Limitations included monitoring and restrictions on unsupervised contact with minors. Diocesan authorities reviewed his history and removed him from direct contact with children when allegations surfaced. 

The Catholic religious order takes a credible or public allegation seriously and often offers a rigorous relapse prevention program. This helps accused priests avoid prison time for crimes, and, frequently, the religious establishment will try to settle the case out of court, like when the one in Los Angeles settled. 

While some settled for 1.75 million, other actions focused on creating safeguards to protect future generations and mitigate the risks of clergy abuse. The archdioceses involved coordinated with survivor support networks to provide ongoing care.

Victims can work with a professional attorney experienced in representing them against the Archdiocese of Chicago to determine whether they can still file a civil suit seeking a settlement. 

Timeline

• 1970-1975: Ordained. There are no records regarding when he was officially ordained. Instead, sources estimate this date based on when his assignments began. 
• 1970-1971: Joliet Catholic High School in Illinois
• 1971-1972: Carmel High School in Illinois
• 1976: Mount Carmel High School in California
• 1976-1988: Mount Carmel Priory in California
• 1979-1988: St. Raphael’s in California
• 1987-1989: Saint Clara-Saint Cyril in Illinois
• 1995-1999: Carmelite Fathers Provincial House
• 2002-2006: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Illinois
• 2006: A lawsuit was filed by a victim in California
• 2006: Boley was removed from public ministry in October 2006
• 2007: The Los Angeles, California lawsuit was settled
• 2019: A victim reported abuse to her mother and the Archdiocese of Chicago
• 2022: The Chicago lawsuit was settled

Other locations where a client endured unspeakable abuse included Kentucky (1990–1994), New Jersey (2000–2002), Ontario, WDC, WI, PA, and MA.

There are multiple disclosure dates due to abuse allegations in various locations. Boley was added to lists of accused by the Diocese of Joliet (November 22, 2020) and the Chicago Archdiocese (October 2022), and was included in the Illinois Attorney General’s Report (May 23, 2023). He frequently shows up on lists of named priests accused of abuse. 

Speak With an Attorney

Survivors of clergy sex abuse can confidentially contact Injury Lawyer Team‘s clergy abuse attorneys to discuss their situation and potential legal options. We understand how concerning it is when a priest was allowed to supervise children prior to professionals specifically saying he should be allowed around them. 

This abuse is known to cause psychological and spiritual harm. The lengthy discussions can also have a devastating impact. That’s why the team at our law firm will handle as much as we can for you. You can focus on the healing process while we seek accountability and justice. 

Sources and Public Records

Details are based on diocesan disclosures, public records, and survivor reports. Bishop Accountability maintains a list of accused priests to keep the public informed and to hold officials accountable. No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated. 

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.