Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago
If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse by a priest, you are not alone. Our attorneys & advocates are here to help you.
If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse by a priest, you are not alone. Our attorneys & advocates are here to help you.
If you were sexually abused by a Chicago priest, you have legal rights – even if the abuse was decades ago or the abuser is dead. We work exclusively with sexual abuse victims and have worked with Chicago survivors for decades. Our team is trauma-informed and always prioritizes compassion while simultaneously working diligently to get survivors the justice they deserve.
Catholic Priest Abuse Database: Archdiocese of Chicago
Search the Catholic Clergy Abuse Database: Use the search tool below to find publicly available information about Catholic priests and other clergy members accused of sexual abuse or misconduct involving minors. This nationwide database includes clergy associated with Catholic dioceses, archdioceses, parishes, schools, seminaries, and religious institutions in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Search by clergy member name, state, city, assignment year, location, or diocese. Because clergy may serve in multiple locations, searching by name may reveal additional assignments and publicly available information.
If you are a survivor of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago, you have rights and can take legal action. Contact us confidentially today.
Attorney General Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse in Illinois
In 2023, Attorney General Kwame Raoul released an investigative report into clergy sexual abuse in Illinois, appending former Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s findings. This investigative report revealed claims by 1,997 survivors who were sexually abused by 451 priests or members of Catholic clergy in dioceses across Illinois.
Report: Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese and Diocese in Illinois
This report contains the names of clergy associated with the Diocese in Illinois who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil court. Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proven or substantiated in a court of law. Download the report.
Report: Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese and Diocese in Illinois
This report contains the names of clergy associated with the Diocese in Illinois who have been accused of sexual misconduct. The allegations in this report should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proven or substantiated in a court of law. Download the report.
If you are a survivor of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago, you have rights and can take legal action. Contact us confidentially today.
Contract Affiliations and Co-Counsel in Illinois
The alliance of Jeff Anderson & Associates and Frost & Pearlman is the most recognized team of clergy abuse attorneys in Chicago and all of Illinois. As sexual abuse lawyers, we have represented thousands of victims of childhood sexual abuse in cases against individual offenders and the institutions that harbor them. We are engaged with a national network of attorneys who share our mission, and when we take a case, we exhaust every imaginable resource in order to serve our clients’ needs.
Meet the Team – Our Chicago Attorneys
JEFF ANDERSON, MARC PEARLMAN, and MELISSA ANDERSON are steadfast in their mission to empower survivors and help them in their journey towards healing and justice
For decades, we’ve worked alongside Chicago-based firm Frost & Pearlman to help survivors pursue justice, expose wrongdoing, and hold institutions accountable. A rarity in the legal field, we both work exclusively on sexual abuse cases and have represented hundreds of survivors in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Jeff Anderson, Attorney
Jeff Anderson is widely recognized as a pioneer in sexual abuse litigation and a champion of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In five decades as a fierce litigator, Jeff has represented thousands of survivors and their families and has tried over two hundred and fifty jury trials to verdict across the country through the crucible of the courtroom. Known for his optimism, energy, and compassion for his clients, Jeff is credited with being instrumental in exposing the large-scale cover-up of pedophile priests in the early 1980’s. As one of the first trial lawyers in America to publicly and aggressively initiate lawsuits against sexual predators—and focusing on bringing heat and light on the offenders and the institutions that conceal and protect them.
Jeff has received many awards and recognitions, but his greatest honor is the trust reposed in him by survivors and their families. From them, he draws strength, courage, and inspiration in the shared journey of hope, healing, and for a safer tomorrow.
Anderson’s tireless efforts extend beyond the courtroom, where he is a frequent lecturer, survivor advocate, and author who advocates for legislative and judicial protection of children and the prevention of childhood sexual abuse.
Jeff Anderson Bar Admissions:
- Minnesota, 1975
- Wisconsin, 1984
- Illinois, 2004
- Colorado, 2006
- New York, 2010
- Pennsylvania, 2011
- New Jersey, 2019
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1984
- U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, 2019
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, 2020
Marc Pearlman
Attorney – Illinois
Marc Pearlman, of the Chicago-based law firm Frost and Pearlman, is an intense and focused Chicago clergy abuse attorney practitioner with significant experience working alongside Jeff Anderson & Associates representing survivors of priest abuse and sexual abuse and exploitation in general. He has participated in many domestic and international arbitrations and acted as national coordinating counsel for his clients.
In representing victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, Marc is committed to advocating on behalf of and protecting the interests of children and vulnerable adults. In addition to litigating and settling cases on behalf of his clients, Marc has assisted in drafting legislation and worked to change law to better protect victims of sexual abuse.
Marc graduated from Cornell University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1991.
An accomplished athlete, Marc played four years of football at Cornell, and was a black belt in judo and a ten-time United States judo champion. In 1984, he was the youngest member invited to the U.S. Olympic trials. Marc attributes some of his most positive workplace qualities – teamwork, loyalty, discipline and determination – to having participated in these sports.
Marc Pearlman Bar Admissions:
- Illinois
- U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
Melissa Anderson
Attorney – Illinois
Melissa A. Anderson, of the Chicago-based law firm Frost and Pearlman is honored to bring her years of civil litigation and dispute resolution experience to advocate on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
With a passion for helping children and adults impacted by such abuse, Melissa seeks to bring a sense of calm and empowerment to those for whom she advocates and is dedicated to holding offenders and their enabling institutions accountable.
Melissa obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her J.D. with honors from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Melissa continues to reside in the Chicago suburbs where she is raising her two young boys.
You Are Not Alone. We Are Here to Help.
It’s time for justice. It’s time for you to share your story safely and confidentially. It’s time to lay down your burden and reclaim some of your power. It’s time to expose those who hurt you and make sure what happened to you never happens to another kid. It’s time to take action. Before making a decision concerning such serious and sensitive matters, we encourage all survivors of child sexual abuse to consult with legal counsel before proceeding with a claim. We want to help you find accountability and healing. We will stand by you. We will fight for you.
We support survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Visit our Question and Answers pages for additional resources. We believe you.
Clergy Accused of Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago
The list below contains the names of clergy who were assigned within or working in the Archdiocese of Chicago and who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil or criminal court. Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proven or substantiated in a court of law.
All individuals should be considered innocent until proven guilty. In some situations, the statute of limitations has expired, preventing cases from being heard in a court of law. The information contained herein is an attempt to compile information already available to the public, including information obtained from the media, www.bishopaccountability.org, the Archdiocese’s public statements, lists, and reports that were released to the public, and other sources that have attempted to chronicle this information for public use.
