Fr. Daniel J. McCormack

Admitted in 1992 to making sexual advances toward a boy as a seminarian in Mexico, where he was studying Spanish. Seminary officials knew of this and allegations from two adult seminarian classmates. Ordained in 1994. Targeted vulnerable boys in Black parishes in Chicago’s West Side. Accused in 10/1999 of abuse of an altar boy. The Archdiocese ignored a 9/5/2003 warning that there were boys in the rectory. Arrested 8/30/2005. Assigned as dean 9/1/2005. Arrested 1/20/2006; removed. Pleaded guilty 7/2/2007 to abuse of 5 boys at St. Agatha’s in Chicago, some after first arrest; 5-year sentence. Multiple settlements, over $12M. Laicized in 11/2007. Settlements 11/2011, 1/2014, 3/2014, over $4M. More accusers in 2010-2014 suits. Included on the Archdiocese’s list. $2.7M to 2 brothers in 1/2017. Paroled in 2009; ruled danger to public, sent to a state mental health facility. Arrested 5/21/2014 for 2005 abuse of a 10-year-old. Pleaded not guilty. Charges dropped in 2/2016. Suit filed 3/25/2016 for abuse of a boy 2003-2004; settled 4/20/2017. Suit 10/2016 claimed abuse of a boy 2002-2005, beginning when the boy was age 10. Settlement of $2.3M in 1/2017. Settled with 3 for $3.15M 3/17/2017. Suit 6/15/2017. In 9/2017 ruled sexually violent. Suit filed in 10/2017. Fraudulent claim found in 2015, withdrawn in 2017; claimant fined $60K. McCormack was committed to a sex offender facility in 7/2018. Settlement in 9/2018 for $2.9M. Another in 12/2020 for $1.5M. In 5/2021 a court overturned judge’s ruling which lead to commitment to detention facility; released in 10/7/2021. Reportedly living in the Near North neighborhood. Settlement of $1.2M in 5/2022 to a man claiming abuse at age 12 at St. Agatha’s in 2005. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report, which notes over 100 claims of sex abuse against McCormack. In 4/2025 the Archdiocese filed suit against two men who allegedly conspired to file false claims against McCormack.