Fr. Michael W. O’Connell

Ordained: 1983
Status: Accused

Suspended in 12/2013 from St. Alphonsus Parish after the Archdiocese received an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a minor at Our Lady of the Woods in Orland Park nearly 20 years prior. Allegations reported to Child and Family Services and Cook County DA. On 4/15/2014, the Cook County Sheriff’s Dept deemed the allegation unfounded. The Archdiocese also said it found no reason to suspect that the abuse occurred and that O’Connell would be reinstated to St. Alphonsus. A new allegation received in about 4/18/2014 claimed abuse of a different boy in in the 1990s at the same parish. Police reopened the investigation; O’Connell had yet to be removed for a second time. He was to avoid the parish school and not be alone with a child.

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