In a Jan. 19 statement, Bishop Paprocki acknowledged that Father Thomas Donovan, pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Springfield, "had bound himself in handcuffs and called for assistance when he was unable to remove them."

"The police officers state that he was alone and fully clothed when they arrived at the rectory," the bishop's statement continued. "There was no indication that anyone else had been present. No crime was committed, no one was arrested, no alcohol or drugs were involved."

The statement said that when Bishop Paprocki met with Father Donovan on Dec. 8, "Father Donovan said that he was mortified by what happened and acknowledged that the information that had been reported to me was basically accurate. He (Father Donovan) insisted that he had been alone the whole time of this incident and denied that there was any sexual component to this."

At Father Donovan's request, he was granted leave of absence. Msgr. David Lantz, pastor of St. James Parish in Riverton and St. John Vianney Parish in Sherman, was named temporary parochial administrator of St. Aloysius. On the weekend of Dec. 15-16, Msgr. Carl Kemme, vicar general, read a statement to parishioners from Father Donovan in which Father Donovan said, "While I have not been involved in anything illegal or anything otherwise jeopardizing the safety, welfare, or morals of other persons, I have been responding to the stresses of priestly ministry in a way that has come to compromise my own personal safety and welfare."

With Father Donovan's consent, Bishop Paprocki's statement disclosed that Father Donovan is being treated by a clinical therapist and is receiving appropriate medical care.

"A thorough review of Father Donovan's work and lifestyle patterns reveals multiple significant unresolved stressors derived from parish ministry and severely-compromised patterns of self-care with respect to diet, exercise, sleep, work hours and unreasonable personal expectations of himself as a pastor."

According to the statement, "Father Donovan is suffering from a psychological condition that manifests itself in self-bondage as a response to stress. The clinical therapist also confirms that the strict absence of illicit sexual behaviors, relationships, and patterns reveal that this self bondage is to be understood as non-sexual in nature."

Bishop Paprocki's statement said, "Father Donovan appears to have been completely forthright with me in his account of this event, which is consistent with the public record." The statement asked for the "basic respect of accurate reporting of the event, the correction of untrue defamatory information arising from unsubstantiated rumors and claims, and the privacy now to heal from the trauma of this event and the original stress that precipitated it."

In the statement, Bishop Paprocki said he intends to present the case to a special panel established by his predecessor, now-Archbishop George J. Lucas, in 2005 and chaired by former U.S. attorney and Sangamon County state's attorney J. William Roberts. "I will seek the guidance and direction of this Special Panel for Professional Responsibility and parish leaders on the question of Father Donovan's suitability for return to ministry."

In conclusion, the statements asked for prayers for Father Donovan and for the people of St. Aloysius Parish.

A complete transcript of Bishop Paprocki's statement is available on the diocesan website here: www.dio.org/communications/press-releases.html.