UNITED STATES
What They Knew
[with document]
In another letter from November 30, 1959 Chicago – Detroit Province Jesuit superiors state in correspondence that there is “serious doubt about [his] fitness for the Order” of one Donald McGuire SJ. McGuire would later rise through the ranks of the Jesuits, befriend popes and three candidates for sainthood, only to be convicted criminally twice by juries in both state and federal court for child sexual abuse. Names of other “doubtful” Jesuit novices are included as well. Who they are, we don’t know yet.
Given the severity of the letter below, it is remarkable to see the image above from June 11, 1961 when McGuire was ordained to the priesthood. Although he remained a Jesuit for over 50 years until 2008 (although he was convicted criminally in 2006) reports of sexual abuse and improper relationships with minor children began in 1964 as we shall see later.
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