Romeo Roy Blanchette

Romeo Roy Blanchette (January 6, 1913 – January 10, 1982) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois from 1966 to 1979. He previously served as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese from 1965 to 1966.

Biography

Early life Romeo Blanchette was born on January 6, 1913, in Kankakee County, Illinois, to Oscar and Josephine (née Langlois) Blanchette. After attending Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago from 1928 to 1931, he studied at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934. He continued his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1939.

Retirement and legacy On January 30, 1979, Pope John Paul II accepted Blanchette's resignation as bishop of Joliet after he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. Romeo Blanchette died of that disease at St. Joseph's Hospital in Joliet on January 10, 1982, at age 69.

In a 2015 lawsuit brought against the diocese by sexual abuse victims, it was revealed that Blanchette ignored warnings about the behavior of certain seminarians. The diocese settled with the victims for over $4 million.

He allowed the ordination of Lawrence Gibbs in 1973, despite complaints about his behavior from administrators at Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary. Gibbs eventually molested 14 boys. Blanchette allowed James Nowak to be ordained, despite knowing that the Capuchin Order had dismissed him due to his failure to keep his vow of chastity. Nowak eventually abused eight children.