Rev. Patrick Mackan, C.R.—Assignment Record

Summary of Case: In 2002, a Canadian woman filed suit accusing Rev. Patrick Mackan, C.R., of sexually abusing her 1972-75, beginning when she was 17 years old. She had been raped and impregnated by another man and was befriended by Mackan, who persuaded her to carry her twin children to term and then put them up for adoption. During and after her pregnancy, Mackan is accused of having oral sex and sexual intercourse with the girl. Some of the abuse occurred during trips to the United States, where Mackan supervised other priests of the Congregation of the Resurrection.

Died: 1990

Source: Information from accuser and Official Catholic Directory (New York: Kennedy & Sons, 1973-74).

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Mackan's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report. We remind our readers that in the U.S. judicial system, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.

A Note on Nomenclature: We use the term "assignment record," instead of the more common "service record," because "service" is not an appropriate word for the activities of an abusive priest. Dioceses are often less than forthcoming about the activities of retired priests, but when we can determine those activities, we list them in these assignment records, particularly if they involve ministry. Retired priests remain under obedience to their bishop, and even the activities of laicized priests should be a concern to the diocese.

This assignment record was last updated 10/1/06.