CHICAGO (LifeSiteNews) — Father Xamie Reyes, a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, has been removed from his parish after being accused of sexual misconduct and grooming seminarians, heterodox Cardinal Blase Cupich announced last week.

In an October 18 statement, Cupich announced that Fr. Reyes, who had been the pastor of Little Flower Parish in Waukegan since 2019, was removed from that position pending an investigation after serious allegations surfaced that the priest had groomed seminarians. Under Cupich’s leadership, the Archdiocese of Chicago has become notorious for fostering a pro-LGBT culture. Cupich has also downplayed the role of homosexuality in clerical abuse.

“The Archdiocese has received allegations against Father Reyes of grooming and sexual misconduct,” the cardinal wrote in the statement. “The allegations do not involve children and youth, but they do involve seminarians.”

Cupich noted that Father Ismael Garcia, who was the associate pastor of Little Flower Parish under Reyes, has been appointed as the new pastor during the investigation.

“I know that this is unsettling news, but I take seriously the responsibility to ensure those serving you are fit for ministry and that all are kept safe,” he added. “I do appreciate your patience as we work to evaluate thoroughly these allegations.”

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Despite his denunciation of Reyes’ alleged abuse, Cupich has a long history of breaking with and fostering confusion over the Church’s teaching on homosexuality.

In 2015, during the Synod of the Family, he proposed a pathway for both homosexuals and divorced and “remarried” couples to receive the Eucharist in accordance with their “consciences.”

In 2021, he allowed then-Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a “married” lesbian, to receive Holy Communion at a funeral Mass he celebrated. In 2023, he offered a Mass commemorating the heterodox Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach’s (AGLO) 35th anniversary.

In 2022, two homosexuals gave a “Gospel reflection” promoting their “marriage” during Mass at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago. Last year, heterodox Chicago priest Fr. Michael Pfleger conducted a “blessing” of two “married” homosexual men, and another Chicago priest “blessed” two lesbians as “holy spouses.”

In 2016, when a priest “came out” as a “proud” homosexual, Cardinal Cupich allowed him to continue as a parish priest.

The Catholic Church condemns homosexual activity, declares homosexual inclinations “objectively disordered,” and calls homosexuals to chastity and conversion.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law.” “Under no circumstances can they be approved,” the Catechism states. Homosexual acts are also mortal sins; therefore, anyone who commits these sins and does not repent through the sacrament of Confession is in danger of hell.

Cardinal Cupich is also a major supporter of the dissident Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP), frequently attending their annual assemblies, which, in addition to supporting homosexual “marriage,” endorses female “ordination,” and even encourages masturbation.

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Indeed, Cupich, who served on the organizing committee for the 2019 Vatican summit on clerical abuse, has also repeatedly downplayed the role of homosexual clergy in cultivating the Church’s abuse crisis, instead blaming “clericalism.” In 2018, the cardinal went so far to suggest that “consensual” sexual activity between clerics and adults should be treated differently from child sex abuse.