The Archdiocese of Chicago took an unusual step this week in response to a 2024 lawsuit alleging new counts of sexual abuse against a laicized Chicago priest, the notorious sexual abuser Daniel McCormack.
In a countersuit filed this week, the Chicago archdiocese said that several men conspired for years to commit fraud, pretending to be McCormack’s victims in order to secure settlements.
The story told by the Chicago archdiocese is extraordinary. But as the lawsuit begins, it’s worth asking what its long-term effect in the Chicago archdiocese might be on both how dioceses consider historical allegations of abuse and on how accusations against priests are handled by bishops.
According to a suit filed Monday, a group of young men worked together more than 10 years ago to coordinate a scheme in which they would falsely accuse McCormack of sexual abuse in order to secure legal settlements.
The scheme, which reportedly included several incarcerated men, including gang members and convicted murderers, came to light in 2013 when one defendant talked about the scheme on a recorded call from jail, the Chicago archdiocese says. And subpoenas of other jail house calls allegedly revealed defendants discussing how easy it was to “lick” the archdiocese — to pull a scam, and receive a payout.
“I need some ass free money, too,” one defendant reportedly said. “As long as [McCormack] ain’t got to touch me for real, I don’t give a [redacted].”
The defendant’s interlocutor on the...
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