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Lawsuit: Mt. Greenwood Parish Altar Boy Claims Abuse in 1980s

By Andy Grimm
Chicago Tribune
April 24, 2012

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-former-mt-greenwood-alter-boy-parish-claims-abuse-in-1980s-20120424,0,2666917.story


A man who served as an altar boy at a Mount Greenwood Roman Catholic parish claims in a lawsuit filed today that he was molested by a priest in the 1980s.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a plaintiff listed as "John Doe," claims that Fr. John Curran, a priest who served at St. Christina's Church, 11005 S. Homan Ave., lured young boys to his room in the church rectory and molested them, and that church leaders were aware of the abuse and did nothing to remove Curran from his post or keep him away from children.

An Archdiocese of Chicago registry lists Curran among priests against whom there are "substantiated claims" of abuse. The registry also shows Curran died in March 2000.

In 2005, the archdiocese settled lawsuits filed by 24 parishioners who claimed they were abused as children by 14 priests, including Curran.

Spokeswoman Susan Burritt said the archdiocese had not yet received a copy of the lawsuit and could not comment on the case.

The lawsuit claims the victim was molested by Curran as a child, but repressed memories of the abuse until 2011.

Curran served at several parishes during his career, according to the lawsuit: St. Bede the Venerable from 1957-61; Quigley Preparatory from 1961-66; St. Catherine of Siena Oak Park, 1966-70; St. Albert the Great in Burbank, 1970-80; St. Christina, 1980 to 1996; and St. Joseph's in Homewood, 1996-1998.

Contact: agrimm@tribune.com




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