allegations. The diocese nvestigated the allegations and in 2006 declared them to be totally false. The same allegations were raised again in 2021 in a lawsuit by Anthony J. Gorgia, a former seminarian, against the Pontifical North American College in Rome and the Archdiocese of New York. In July 2004, Lucas approved a $1.2 million settlement to eight men who had been sexually abused as minors by Walter Weerts, a diocese priest at Sacred Heart Parish in Villa Grove, Illinois between 1973 and 1980. Convicted of sexual abuse crimes in 1986, Weerts spent three years in prison and was removed from the priesthood in March 1989. Statistics : 142,847 Catholics 130 parishes 106 diocesan priests (active and retired) 49 religious priests 27 religious brothers 667 women religious 37 Permanent deacons 2,344 baptisms 1,980 first communions 2,041 confirmations 667 weddings 1,610 funerals 294 scheduled weekend masses : 151,601 Catholics 132 parishes 87 active priests; 62 religious institute priests 122 diocesan priests (including retired and serving outside the diocese) 6 Catholic hospitals Bishops Bishop Elect of Quincy Joseph Melcher (Appointed 1853; did not take effect); appointed Bishop of Green Bay Bishops of Alton Henry Damian Juncker (1857-1868) Peter Joseph Baltes (1870-1886) James Ryan (1888-1923) Bishops of Springfield in Illinois James Aloysius Griffin (1924-1948) William Aloysius O'Connor (1949-1975) Joseph Alphonse McNicholas (1975-1983) Daniel L. Ryan (1984-1999) George J. Lucas (1999-2009), appointed Archbishop of Omaha Thomas J. Paprocki (2010–present) Other priests of the diocese who became bishops John Janssen, appointed Bishop of Belleville in 1888 John Baptist Franz, appointed Bishop of Dodge City in 1951 and later Bishop of Peoria in 1959 Victor Hermann Balke, appointed Bishop of Crookston in 1976 Kevin Vann, appointed Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Fort Worth in 2005 and later Bishop of Orange in 2012 Carl A. Kemme, appointed Bishop of Wichita in 2014 Parishes There are currently 128 parishes in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The Diocese also operates campus ministry centers at 6 colleges and universities within its boundaries. Notable parishes: St. Paul Catholic Church (Highland, Illinois) Campus ministry In addition to these parishes, the Diocese operates campus ministry centers at the following institutions: Blackburn College Eastern Illinois University Illinois College Millikin University Southern Illinois University Edwardsville University of Illinois Springfield Catholic schools High schools There are seven high schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Marquette Catholic High School, Alton, Illinois St. Teresa High