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Were you abused by Father John Slown?

FATHER JOHN SLOWN SEXUAL ABUSE LAWYERS

GGH Law represents survivors of sexual abuse by Father John Slown in the Diocese of Joliet. Our attorneys are ready to listen and help you understand your options. SEE IF YOUR CASE QUALIFIES

Confidential • No fee unless we win

THE CASE — BACKGROUND

Father John Slown

Father John C. Slown was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Joliet in 1959. Over his ministry he served at St. Michael’s in Wheaton, St. John the Baptist in Winfield, St. Scholastica in Woodridge, St. Mary Magdalene in Joliet, St. Joseph in Bradley, St. Irene in Warrenville, and Christ the King in Lombard. He was convicted of child sexual abuse in DuPage County in 1983 and died in 2022.

Legal Help For Survivors

WERE YOU OR A LOVED ONE ABUSED BY
CLERGY IN ILLINOIS?

ALLEGATIONS & TIMELINE

What the Records Show

  • In May 2023, the Illinois AG’s Report documented Slown among Diocese of Joliet clergy with substantiated allegations. The Diocese noted at least 10 survivors.

According to the Report, the Diocese first received documented allegations in 1971, when a priest in New Jersey reported that Slown had abused all five boys in a local family.

Legal Claims

What GGH Law Is Investigating

GGH Law is investigating civil claims on behalf of survivors. The following claims are central to the investigation.

Clergy Sexual Abuse

Father Slown was convicted in 1983 of sexually abusing a boy in DuPage County. The Illinois AG’s report identifies at least 10 alleged victims spanning his ministry across multiple Diocese of Joliet parishes.

Institutional Cover-Up

The Diocese noted at least 10 survivors of Slown’s abuse across multiple parishes. Allegations were never referred to law enforcement, and instead the Diocese transferred him repeatedly between parishes.

Negligent Supervision & Retention

The Diocese kept Slown in active ministry for more than a decade after the first documented report in 1971, despite multiple warnings.

Named Defendants

Who Is Being Investigated

Father John C. Slown (Deceased)

Ordained 1959, Diocese of Joliet. Convicted of child sexual abuse in DuPage County in 1983. Removed from ministry 1986. Named in the Illinois AG’s 2023 Report. Died 2022.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet

The Diocese received at least six documented reports of Slown’s abuse beginning in 1971, never referred any allegation to law enforcement, and instead transferred him to new parishes and sent him for brief treatment programs.

Your Attorneys

GGH Is Fighting for Families Like Yours

If you or someone you love was harmed due to negligence at a Catholic parish, school, or other Diocese-affiliated institution in Illinois, you may have legal options. GGH Law represents survivors in civil cases involving negligence, failure to supervise, and failure to disclose incidents of alleged abuse or harm.

Institutions have a legal duty to protect those in their care. When they fail to properly screen clergy, ignore warning signs, or conceal incidents of harm, they can be held accountable. The same applies to the Diocese itself — when a central authority oversees a network of parishes and schools, it also shares responsibility for ensuring those locations are safe.

 

Experienced Attorneys

Clergy Il: Father John Slown - Gould Grieco &Amp; Hensley

GOULD GRIECO & HENSLEY
INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE LITIGATION TEAM
Gould Grieco & Hensley is a national personal injury firm that represents survivors in high-stakes institutional accountability cases, including this clergy sex abuse investigation.

You never pay out of pocket.

WE WORK ON CONTINGENCY
NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN

You only pay if we secure compensation.

Questions Survivors Are Asking

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Slown was convicted of sexually abusing a boy in DuPage County in 1983 while serving at St. Irene Catholic Church in Warrenville. He was sentenced to prison, sent to treatment, and subsequently reassigned before being removed from ministry in 1986.
The Diocese received at least six documented reports of abuse beginning in 1971 and never referred any allegation to law enforcement.
Yes. Civil claims may still be brought against the Diocese and other institutions that enabled or failed to prevent the abuse — even when the individual abuser is deceased.
Possibly yes. Illinois has significantly expanded its statutes of limitation for childhood sexual abuse claims in recent years. GGH Law can evaluate your situation in a free, confidential consultation.
No. GGH Law handles these cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. Your consultation is completely free and confidential.
ACCOUNTABLITY FOR SURVIVORS:
THE GGH ADVANDAGE
Gould Grieco & Hensley (GGH) is a prestigious, boutique national personal injury firm that serves as a relentless advocate for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries. Recognized as "Innovators of Law," the firm combines world-class legal expertise with state-of-the-art technology—including agile project management and cutting-edge trial techniques—to secure unprecedented results against the world’s largest institutional defendants. With a proven track record that includes global settlements exceeding $2 billion and individual verdicts surpassing $550 million, their award-winning attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis to ensure justice is accessible without upfront costs. From the courtroom to features in The New York Times and Forbes, Gould Grieco and Hensley remains dedicated to turning strategic precision and aggressive litigation into life-changing outcomes for their clients.