Rev. Thomas R. Burg

Summary of Case: In April 2002 the Diocese of Cleveland released the names of twelve priests, incuding Burg, who were no longer in active ministry because of allegations in the past of the abuse of minors. He was accused of molesting at least one young girl during confession. He was absent on leave from 1995 until his death September 18, 2002.

Ordained
: 1964
Died: 2002

 

   

Start Stop Assignment Town/Accusations State Position Notes

1964

Cleveland bishop was Edward Francis Hoban (1945-1966), followed by Clarence George Issenmann (1966-1974).

1971 St. Ignatius Cleveland (Antioch) OH

5/6, 4/6, 3/5, 3/4, 4/4

 

Parish had a school with 1,722 to 1,139 students.
1971 1974 St. Luke Cleveland (Lakewood) OH 3/4, 2/2, 3/3  

1974

Issenmann's successor was James Aloysius Hickey (1974-1980).

1978 St. Angela Merci Cleveland OH

5/5

In residence

Parish had a school with 910-960 students.
1972 1980 St. Edward's High School Cleveland OH   St. Edward's had 1,350-1,480 students, all male.

1980

Anthony Michael Pilla replaced Hickey (1980-2006).

1982 Annunciation Cleveland OH

4/4

In residence

Parish had a school with 200-225 students.
1982 1987 St. Patrick's

Cleveland

• In 2002 a couple reported that Burg touched their daughter  inappropriately during confession in the mid- 1980s. Another couple reported to Burg and the diocese in 1986 that Fr. Donald Rooney, also at St. Patrick's at the time, had molested their daughter. The couple later believed that Burg was covering for Rooney. (Plain Dealer [Cleveland, Ohio]
June 16, 2002)

OH

1/5, 1/4

 

 

 

 

 

Rooney was the subject of allegations of sexual abuse of girls. He died by suicide in March 2002. (Plain Dealer [Cleveland, Ohio]
June 16, 2002)

Parish had a school with 921-820 students.
1987 1988 Absent on Leave        
1989 1990 Univ. of Illinois at Chicago: John Paul II Center        
1988 1992 Loyola University, Water Tower Campus Chicago IL Director of Chaplains  
1992 1995 Mallinckrodt College of Loyola University Chicago IL Director  
1995 2002 Absent on Leave      

 

Burg's name was released by the diocese in April 2002 as one of twelve former or retired Cleveland priests who were no longer active in ministry due to allegations of abuse of children. (Plain Dealer [Cleveland, Ohio] April 9, 2002)

Burg died September 18, 2002. 

He was included on the diocese's list in 2019 of those against whom there were substantiated allegations.


Source
: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1965-2002)

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Burgs's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on April 2, 2021.