The Archdiocese of Chicago has long been a cornerstone of faith and community life, serving millions through its Catholic schools, charitable initiatives, and religious programs. Yet, this respected institution has faced serious allegations of clergy sexual abuse, which have cast a shadow over its legacy.

The Chicago clergy abuse lawyers at Injury Lawyer Team provide invaluable support for survivors navigating the complex legal processes involved in these cases. Our dedication ensures that survivors can recover compensation to heal from their experiences and hold powerful institutions accountable.

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Archdiocese of Chicago Background and Influence

The Archdiocese of Chicago holds a profound historical and cultural significance in the United States. Founded in 1843, it quickly became a spiritual hub for the Midwest, serving a growing population of immigrants and establishing itself as a guiding force in the region.

Today, it encompasses Cook and Lake counties, boasting hundreds of parishes, Catholic schools, and community outreach programs, including Catholic Charities. From its inception, the archdiocese has been pivotal in shaping religious and cultural norms within the region.

Its leaders, including past and current archbishops and auxiliary bishops, have often served as influential figures within the broader Catholic Church. These leaders have historically provided spiritual guidance but have also faced scrutiny for their handling of sensitive issues, particularly allegations of abuse.

Figures such as Rev. Daniel McCormack, a former priest convicted of sexually abusing young boys [1], have drawn widespread condemnation. Cases like these highlight systemic issues, including inadequate responses to early warnings and the reassignment of accused clergy to new parishes.

Abuse Allegations Within the Archdiocese of Chicago

The Archdiocese of Chicago has faced extensive allegations of sexual abuse by clergy members, with claims spanning several decades. These cases reveal troubling patterns of misconduct and systemic failures to protect vulnerable individuals, especially children, who trusted the Church as a safe haven.

Reports of abuse within the archdiocese date back to the mid-20th century, with many cases emerging in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2006, the archdiocese began publishing a list of clerics with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors, which has been updated over the years to include additional names. [2]

A significant development occurred in May 2023 when the Illinois Attorney General released a comprehensive report on Catholic clergy child sex abuse in Illinois. The multi-year investigation found that clergy abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950. [3]

Victims were often minors who interacted with clergy through church programs, Catholic schools, or community activities. The abuse frequently involved young boys who were altar servers or participants in youth programs, reflecting a pattern where trusted clergy exploited their positions of authority.

Many survivors have described long-lasting psychological and emotional scars from the abuse, compounded by the Church’s failure to acknowledge their suffering. These experiences have led to a growing demand for justice, accountability, and systemic change.

The Illinois Attorney General’s report highlighted that prior to the investigation, only two dioceses—the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Joliet—publicly listed clergy members with substantiated allegations of abuse. This lack of transparency contributed to the perpetuation of abuse and hindered efforts for accountability. [4]

The list of accused Illinois clergy in the Archdiocese of Chicago includes:

Fr. Robert Gerald Aguirre
Fr. Elias Aiyako
Fr. Louis Altendorf
Br. Lawrence A. Angel
Fr. Hugh James Austin
Fr. Felix Bak
Fr. David Ball
Fr. Oscar Bandini-Beguerisse
Fr. Alexander Sylvester Baranowski
Fr. Charles Patrick Barnes
Fr. Harry J. Barton
Fr. Richard Barry Bartz
Deacon Patricio William Batuyong
Fr. Robert Charles Becke
Br. Robert E. Beckstrom
Fr. Joseph R. Bennett
Fr. Leonard Adolph Bogdan
Br. Dennis Bonebreak
Fr. Robert Peter Bowman
Fr. David Francis Braun
Fr. Kenneth M. Brigham
Br. Robert Noel Brouillette
Fr. Daniel Peter Buck
Fr. Edmund F. Burke
Fr. Eugene Patrick Burns
Br. Donald J. Butler
Fr. Eamonn Byrne
Fr. John Walter Calicott
Fr. Jose Martin Careaga Hurtado
Br. Michael T. Carr
Br. Francis C. Carroll
Br. Thomas M. Chmura
Fr. Christopher Ciomek
Fr. John W. Clemens
Fr. George H. Clements
Fr. William J. Cloutier
Br. Alan S. Cobb
Fr. Daniel J. Collins
Br. Donald Cecil Collins
Br. Eugene Laurence Condon
Br. Charles A. Conefrey
Br. Edmund Corrigan
Fr. Robert Craig
Fr. Thomas Carroll Crosby
Fr. John William Curran
Fr. Norman J. Czajka
Fr. Richard Daschbach
Fr. Walter George DeRoeck
Fr. Dominic Aloysius Diederich
Fr. James Diete
Fr. Francis Emil Dilla
Fr. Richard James Douaire
Fr. Edward Dufficy
Fr. Jeremiah C. Duggan
Fr. Anthony Dukich
Br. James Claver Dunn
Br. Laurence Eagle
Fr. William Patrick Farrell
Fr. Richard Wayne Fassbinder
Fr. Mark A. Finan
Fr. John D. Fitzgerald
Fr. John J. Fitzgerald
Fr. Thomas J. Fitzgerald
Fr. Joseph L. Fitzharris
Fr. Terence Fitzmaurice
Fr. James Vincent Flosi
Fr. James E. Flynn
Fr. Crescente DeRivera
Fr. Martin Nyberg
Fr. Philip M. Scherer
Fr. Robert D. Friese
Fr. Rigoberto Gamez-Alfonso
Br. Stephen Justin Gardner
Fr. Jesus P. Garza
Fr. John J. Grace
Fr. Gary Graf
Br. Carlos G. Griego
Fr. Paul Guzman
Fr. James Craig Hagan
Fr. John Edward Hefferan
Br. Ed Hennessey
Br. Gilbert Leroy Hensley
Deacon Juan Francisco Hinojosa
Fr. James Allen Hoder
Fr. Michael J. Hogan
Fr. Michael P. Hogan
Fr. Daniel Mark Holihan
Fr. Thomas Barry Horne
Br. James Alvarez Houlihan
Fr. Walter Edward Huppenbauer
Fr. Leonard Huske
Br. Charles B. Irwin
Fr. Thomas Job
Fr. Augustine K. Jones
Fr. John E. Jordan
Br. John Kealey
Fr. Robert Louis Kealy
Fr. John James Keehan
Fr. Thomas Francis Kelly
Sr. Benen Kent
Fr. John J. Keough
Br. Joseph C. Kernan
Fr. William E. Killeen
Fr. Allan F. Kirk
Fr. Joseph Patrick Kissane
Fr. George W. Klein
Fr. Leonard Paul Kmak
Fr. J. Robert Koch
Fr. John Justin Laibach
Fr. John H. Lane
Fr. Ronald Lange
Br. Ronald Justin Lasik
Fr. Roland J. LeCompte
Fr. Patrick J. Lee
Br. James Lewnard
Fr. William R. Leyhane
Fr. Raphael Lino
Fr. William L. Lupo
Fr. Norbert J. Maday
Fr. Edward J. Maloney
Fr. Martin T. Marren
Fr. Robert E. Mayer
Fr. Vincent McCaffrey
Fr. Daniel McCarthy
Fr. David F. McCarthy
Br. Christopher J. McCartney
Fr. Daniel J. McCormack
Fr. Robert Joseph McDonald
Br. Daniel McDonough
Fr. William M. McFarlane
Fr. Donald J. McGuire
Fr. James P. McIlhone
Fr. Peter John McNamara
Fr. William J. Meagher
Fr. Gary M. Miller
Br. Henry Miller
Fr. Phillip T. Mooney
Fr. Edward James Morgan
Fr. Charles A. Mrowinski
Fr. Donald John Mulsoff
Fr. Octavio Munoz Capetillo
Fr. John Daniel Murphy
Br. John E. Murphy
Br. Thomas Ignatius Murphy
Br. Felipe Navarrette Diaz
Br. Walter D. Neary
Fr. Jacques (Nijssen) Nyssen
Fr. William John O’Brien
Fr. Michael W. O’Connell
Br. Jack O’Dell
Fr. Thomas O’Gorman
Fr. Patrick G. O’Leary
Fr. Donald J. O’Shaughnessy
Fr. Paul L. O’Toole
Fr. Marvin Offutt
Fr. John Baptist Ormechea
Fr. Dana Harold Ostdiek
Fr. Joseph Owens
Br. Frank Paduch
Fr. Emmanuel Pallikunnen
Fr. Eusebio Pantoja Segura
Fr. Thomas Paramo
Br. P.B. Patitucci
Fr. Carlos Enrique Peralta
Fr. Michael L. Pfleger
Seminarian Kevin Phan
Fr. Francis Joseph Phelan
Fr. Sleeva Raju Policetti
Fr. Chester Przybylo
Fr. Konstanty Przybylski
Fr. James M. Ray
Fr. M. Lawrence Reuter
Br. Paul Reycraft
Fr. Claire J. Risse
Fr. John Allen Robinson
Fr. John F. Rohrich
Fr. Russell Lawrence Romano
Fr. Andrew M. Ronan
Fr. John J. Rudnik
Fr. Kenneth Charles Ruge
Br. Daniel Peter Ryan
Fr. David F. Ryan
Fr. Joseph E. Savage
Fr. Daniel R. Schulte
Fr. Edward Schuster
Fr. Wilton L. Skiffington
Br. Timothy Sklopan
Fr. Raymond Francis Skriba
Fr. Richard L. Skriba
Fr. John P. Smyth
Fr. Marion Joseph Snieg
Br. Ruben Soto
Fr. William J. Spine
Fr. James R. Steel
Fr. Robert A. Stepek
Fr. Victor E. Stewart
Fr. Ralph S. Strand
Fr. Gerald A. Streeter
Fr. Walter Strus
Fr. Howard J. Sturm
Fr. James Patrick Sullivan
Fr. Lawrence J. Sullivan
Fr. Thomas J. Swade
Fr. Henry Peter Swider
Fr. Bruno S. Szczawinski
Fr. Albert Tanghal Rimando
Br. Mark E. Thedens
Fr. Richard Gregory Theisen
Fr. Joseph Stephen Thomas
Br. Michael Trujillo
Fr. Walter Joseph Turlo
Fr. David Tushar
Fr. Donald Francis Ulatowski
Fr. Anthony Joseph Vader
Fr. David H. Verhalen
Fr. Clovis Vilchez Parra
Br. Phillip Vorlick
Br. Karl J. Walczak
Fr. Henry Joseph Walsh
Br. Jeremiah Walsh
Fr. Bruce Wellems
Fr. Michael Howard Weston
Fr. Wayne E. Wigglesworth
Fr. Joseph Wilk
Fr. Michael Winkels
Fr. Stanley T. Wisniewski
Deacon Louis Wojtowicz
Fr. Kazimierz Wronka
Fr. Michael T. Yakaitis

Legal Proceedings and Investigations into the Archdiocese of Chicago

The allegations of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Chicago have led to numerous legal actions and investigations over the years.

The Illinois Attorney General’s investigation was a pivotal moment in uncovering the scope of abuse in the state’s Catholic dioceses, including Chicago. The report identified 451 clergy members in Illinois accused of sexually abusing minors, far exceeding the 103 names initially disclosed by the dioceses themselves. [5]

Law enforcement has also pursued criminal investigations in specific cases. For instance, Rev. Norbert Maday, a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, was convicted in 1994 for sexually assaulting boys during trips to Wisconsin in the 1980s. Maday’s case highlighted cross-jurisdictional challenges and the necessity of coordinated efforts to bring abusers to justice. [6]

The Archdiocese of Chicago has faced numerous civil lawsuits filed by survivors of clergy abuse, many of which resulted in significant clergy abuse settlements.

In 2008, for example, the archdiocese paid over $12.6 million to settle claims brought by 16 survivors. These settlements covered abuse that occurred between 1962 and 1994, involving ten different priests. [7]

More recently, the Archdiocese of Chicago reached a settlement in a high-profile case involving Rev. Richard McGrath, a priest accused of sexually abusing students while serving as president of Providence Catholic High School. The survivor’s legal team argued that the archdiocese failed to take appropriate action despite prior warnings about McGrath’s behavior. [8]

Despite these legal efforts, ongoing cases, along with emerging allegations, demonstrate that the fight for justice is far from over. The Archdiocese of Chicago remains under scrutiny, with calls for greater transparency and systemic reforms to ensure that such abuses are never repeated.

The Archdiocese’s Role in Enabling Abuse or Cover-Ups

In many cases, the archdiocese responded to initial abuse allegations by reassigning accused clergy members to new parishes instead of removing them from ministry or reporting them to law enforcement. This practice not only allowed abuse to continue but also silenced victims and their families.

For example, Rev. Norbert Maday was reassigned multiple times despite complaints about his behavior, enabling him to victimize more children. [6]

Internal documents obtained through lawsuits and investigations revealed efforts to conceal abuse allegations. In some cases, clergy members accused of abuse were quietly placed on leave or sent to treatment centers without informing parishioners or law enforcement.

A notable example involves Rev. Lawrence Cozzi, whose alleged abuse spanned several decades. Despite receiving complaints, the archdiocese failed to take decisive action until public and legal pressure mounted. This pattern of delay and denial has been a recurring theme in many abuse cases linked to the archdiocese.

Survivors and their families have spoken out about the ways the archdiocese attempted to suppress their voices. They reported intimidation or pressure to withdraw complaints. These tactics further deepened the trauma experienced by victims and discouraged others from coming forward.

Legal Options for Survivors of Abuse Within the Archdiocese of Chicago

Survivors of clergy abuse within the Archdiocese of Chicago have several legal avenues to pursue justice.

In criminal cases, law enforcement investigates and prosecutes offenders based on evidence of abuse. Convictions can lead to penalties such as imprisonment and registration as a sex offender. However, many older cases may no longer be eligible for criminal prosecution, particularly if survivors did not come forward within the legally defined timeframe.

Civil claims allow survivors to seek financial compensation for the harm they suffered and recover damages for emotional distress, therapy costs, loss of income, and other impacts of the abuse. Unlike criminal cases, civil lawsuits focus on the impact of the abuse on the survivor’s life rather than punishing the perpetrator.

In Illinois, recent legislative changes have extended the statute of limitations for filing civil sexual abuse claims, allowing more survivors to come forward.

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

The Illinois clergy abuse lawyers at Injury Lawyer Team bring extensive experience in representing survivors in civil claims. We understand the emotional toll these cases can take and work to provide survivors with the support they need throughout the process.

By thoroughly investigating each case, we uncover patterns of negligence or misconduct that enable abuse. We ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable and that survivors recover full compensation. Our firm prioritizes confidentiality, ensuring that survivors can share their experiences without fear of judgment or exposure.

We represent victims of clergy abuse within the:

Diocese of Joliet
Diocese of Rockford
Diocese of Peoria
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Diocese of Belleville

Secure Expert Legal Counsel!

If you or a loved one has suffered abuse within the Archdiocese of Chicago, Injury Lawyer Team is here to help you recover compensation and hold perpetrators and enabling institutions accountable.

Our experienced team of clergy abuse lawyers works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay anything unless we secure compensation for you. We handle your case with the utmost confidentiality, ensuring your story is treated with respect and care.

Call 866-757-6452 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.

References: [1] Illinois Attorney General, [2] Archdiocese of Chicago, [3] Illinois Attorney General, [4] Chicago Catholic, [5] PBS, [6] Illinois Attorney General, [7] NBC 5 Chicago, [8] Chicago Tribune