Protecting the Predators: Institutions in the Archdiocese of Chicago that Received Hundreds of Clergy Sexual Abuse Allegations
Throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago, dozens of priests have been accused of sexually abusing innocent children. Behind these priests are the institutions that enabled their actions and protected them from reproach, instead of protecting the children in their care.
Institutional abuse can be just as destructive to the survivor as the initial sexual abuse itself. This blog illuminates those institutions within the Archdiocese of Chicago that caused significant suffering through the years.
If you have been sexually abused by a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, we want to help. Click here for a compassionate and free consultation.
St. Agatha Catholic Church
As one of the oldest predominantly Black churches on Chicago’s West Side, St. Agatha was seen as a safe haven for many. This safety was an illusion. From 2002 to 2006, the Archdiocese of Chicago assigned a known child sexual predator to St. Agatha without alerting the congregation to the danger.
Fr. Daniel McCormack had already faced multiple accusations of sexually abusing young boys when he was assigned to St. Agatha Church, where he was placed in positions that gave him direct access to children, including serving as a basketball coach and youth mentor. Even when multiple boys from St. Agatha reported sexual abuse to the Archdiocese, Fr. McCormack wasn’t removed from ministry until he was criminally convicted in 2006.
St. Agatha, along with the Archdiocese of Chicago, silenced survivors, covered-up sexual abuse allegations, and protected a known predator to the detriment of those it was meant to keep safe.
St. Bede Parish
St. Bede Parish has been host to several priests who have been accused of sexually abusing children. As one of the largest Catholic communities in Chicago, St. Bede had a duty to protect its congregants that it failed to uphold.
Although it seems as if St. Bede’s was merely a temporary waystation for the Archdiocese of Chicago to place troubled priests, St. Bede’s congregation was subject to danger without their knowledge, and there are multiple allegations of sexual abuse arising during the time predator priests were assigned to St. Bede.
St. Christina Parish
St. Christina has been a cornerstone in Chicago’s Catholic Community for over a century, but it has also aided in the protection of multiple priests accused of sexually abusing children. At various points from 1965 to 1993, priests who were accused of child sexual misconduct were assigned to St. Christina Parish.
The Archdiocese of Chicago and St. Christina violated the trust of its parishioners by protecting these priests, resulting in harm to multiple children.
If you have any questions regarding child sexual abuse or need additional resources, visit our questions and answers page.
St. Leonard Church
As a church serving multiple immigrant communities throughout its long history, St. Leonard’s Church has portrayed itself as a place of safety. Instead, Archdiocese of Chicago leaders consistently placed their people in danger with full knowledge of the risks.
Multiple priests who have been accused of sexually abusing children have served St. Leonard’s, including some of the worst repeat offenders such as Fr. Howard Strum and Fr. Russell Romano, raising serious questions about how the parish and Archdiocese of Chicago responded to allegations involving children entrusted to their care.
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary High School
Archbishop Quigley Prep split into two campuses in 1961 (North and South) and combined once more in 2007 after the closure of the South Campus. While providing young boys with education, Quigley Prep was also providing abusive priests with access to children.
Several priests accused of sexually abusing children spent time at one or both school’s campuses, and multiple lawsuits have been filed alleging that Quigley Prep allowed sexual abuse to take place there. Children deserve to feel safe in all schools, religious or not. The Archdiocese of Chicago failed in this duty at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary High School.
North Campus
South Campus
Contact us for a free, confidential conversation. If you were sexually abused by a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Maryville Academy
While other schools and churches on this list may have served as one of many places that abusive priests are transferred to and from, Maryville Academy differs. Maryville has consistently shielded Fr. John Smyth, a priest who sexually abused children, for decades.
Fr. Smyth worked in various roles within Maryville Academy for over forty years, while using his power to sexually abuse dozens of underage students. The Archdiocese of Chicago allegedly knew about a number of these allegations, yet kept an abusive priest in charge of children.
If You Have Been Abused in These or Any Other Institutions Within the Archdiocese of Chicago, You Have Rights
While this list illuminates just a few institutions protecting sexually abusive priests, it is by no means exhaustive. Hundreds of survivors have already come forward with allegations against multiple schools and churches within the Archdiocese of Chicago. We have helped these survivors for decades and want to help you.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this blog is compiled from publicly available sources, including court records, criminal proceedings, church documents, media reports, government investigations, and allegations reported by survivors represented by Jeff Anderson & Associates. The biographies are intended to provide historical context regarding clergy sexual abuse allegations and related institutional responses within the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Some individuals discussed herein were convicted of crimes, while others were accused through civil litigation, church investigations, survivor reports, or other documented proceedings. References to allegations reflect information contained in these sources and should not be interpreted as independent findings of fact by Jeff Anderson & Associates.
This blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Readers seeking legal guidance regarding a specific matter should consult qualified legal counsel.