Priest arrested on drug charges.

#1.

 

Father Christopher Layden accused of cocaine possession and distribution

By Nishi Gupta
Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 12:19 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN -- HOI-19 News has learned a priest with the Peoria Diocese was arrested late Wednesday night on drug-related charges.

Police served search warrants for 33-year-old Father Christopher Layden, who works at the St. Johns Catholic Newman Center in Champaign.

They say they found three grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia at the center and at his home.

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria says Layden has been suspended.

In a statement, the diocese says it did not have, "any suspicion of problems concerning drug use on the part of Father Layden."

The Catholic Newman Center and the priests' residence hall are located on the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus.

U of I police are still investigating.

Layden was released Thursday afternoon from the Champaign County jail on a $50,000 bond.

Before moving to Champaign, Layden was an associate priest at Epiphany Church in Normal.

Monsignor Eric Powell, pastor of Epiphany, says the allegations, if true, are dreadful and come as a shock.

 

 

 

#2.

A priest who once taught at Bloomington Central Catholic High School pleaded not guilty today to charges he sold cocaine from a Catholic student center at the University of Illinois. Father Christopher Layden was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Authorities say a two week investigation turned up evidence Layden was selling cocaine at the Newman Center on campus and at his residence at the rectory.

Layden had recently served as a substitute pastor at Sunday Mass at the Epiphany Catholic Church in Normal. Layden was assigned to Epiphany from 2003 to 2005.

 

 

Catholic Diocese of Peoria response

 

NEWS RELEASE
The Catholic Diocese of Peoria
September 11, 2008

Contact Person:
Patricia M. Gibson
Chancellor
Office of the Chancellor
309-671-1550

"Diocese response to arrest of Reverend Christopher Layden"

For Immediate Release

Bishop Jenky was shocked and saddened to hear of the arrest of Father Chris Layden.
Father Layden has been suspended from all pastrol ministry,
and the Diocese is fully cooperating with law enforcement officials.
Never at any time prior to Father Layden's arrest did the Diocese or the Newman Center have any suspicion of problems
concerning drug use on the part of Father Layden.
The Bishop is praying for the entire Newman Community at the University of Illinois and for all of those affected
by the scourge of drug addiction.

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria will issue no further statements at this time concerning this matter.

 

 

 

Comments on this Story

 

Pray for our priests, don't cast stones... Posted by Michelle Palmer, Palmer - Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 12:41 p.m.

Priests are human, too. They need our prayers just as we need theirs. NO onE is perfect on this earth and we are all asked to be examples of God's love, not just the priests, pastors, and leaders of the church. We must all remember our own mistakes. God bless you, Father.