Assignment Record – Bro. Karl J. Walczak, C.F.C.

Summary of Case: A member of the Irish Christian Brothers order, Walczak was accused in a July 2012 lawsuit of having sexually abused a boy in the early 1970s at Brother Rice High School in Chicago. Walczak denied the accusation. Walczak spent his career as an educator at Christian Brothers schools in Illinios, California, Hawaii and Washington state. In August 2012 Walczak was called to New York by the order ostensibly to assist with a claim in the order's bankruptcy proceedings. Walczak was, at the time, Principal of O'Dea High School in Seattle. The school community was not informed of the allegation of abuse against Walczak until it was publicized in Oct. 2012. Walczak resigned from O'Dea the same day.

1970s

Chicago archbishop was John Patrick Cody (1965-1982)

Chicago

• Walczak was accused in a July 2012 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy in the early in 1970s, when he was a Brother Rice teacher and the boy was a freshman. Walczak denied the allegation.

1984

Monterey bishop was Thaddeus Anthony Shubsda (1982-1991)

1987

Honolulu bishop was Joseph Anthony Ferrario (1982-1993), followed by Francis Xavier DiLorenzo (1994-2004)

1997

Joliet bishop was Joseph Leopold Imesch (1979-2006)

July 1998

Chicago archbishop was Francis Eugene George, O.M.I. (1997-)

July 2011

Sealttle archbishop was James Peter Sartain (2010-)

O'Dea is an all-boy's high school.

An acting principal was put in place at O'Dea in Aug. 2012. He announced in a letter to the O'Dea community that Walczak was "called by the Christian Brothers to assist in resolving a proof of claim filed in the Christian Brother’s Institute bankruptcy proceedings". There was no mention of the accusation of child sexual abuse against Walczak.

Sources:

• LETTER from Acting Principal, O'Dea High School, August 10, 2012
• Faculty & Staff Bios, O’Dea High School Seattle, Washington, Website accessed 10/28/12
• FROM THE CORNER OFFICE, THE O’DEA RELAY, October, 2012
• Seattle Principal Removed for Abuse, Parents Not Informed, By Joelle Casteix, Worthy Adversary, October 31, 2012
• O'Dea High School Principal Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Allegations, KREM, October 31, 2012
• Seattle High School Principal Resigns, Families Claim "Cover up", My Northwest, October 31, 2012
• O'Dea High School Principal Resigns Amid Sex Abuse Allegations, KOMO, October 31, 2012
• Former Honolulu High School Principal Accused of Sex Abuse in Legal Claim, Damon Tucker, October 31, 2012
• O'Dea Principal Accused of Sexual Abuse, By Stephanie Klein, My Northwest, November 1, 2012
• Activists Accuse Seattle Archdiocese of a Cover-up after Principal Resigned Amid Sex Abuse Accusation, By John Hopperstad, Q13 Fox, November 1, 2012
• O'Dea: Gag Order Prevented Disclosure of Sex Abuse Claim against Principal, By Chris Daniels, KING 5, November 1, 2012
• O'Dea Parents Seek Answers after Principal Resigns Amid Abuse Allegations, By Jamie Lynn, KOMO, November 2, 2012

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This assignment record collates Wakczak'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 Nov.8, 2012