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Photo: Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. Credit: Gerald Farinas, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
ABC News Channel 7 in Chicago reports that seven former students of Holy Angels Catholic School in Chicago have filed lawsuits alleging they were sexually abused by priests and that the Archdiocese of Chicago failed to protect children despite knowing about abuse allegations.
The lawsuits, filed Monday, involve alleged abuse at the former Bronzeville school over several decades. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say more than 100 former students may have been abused and that additional lawsuits are expected.
Some of the alleged survivors were as young as five years old.
Lawsuits Allege Abuse Spanned More Than Three Decades
One of the lawsuits describes what it calls a continuous pattern of sexual abuse at Holy Angels from 1969 through 2002.
The seven plaintiffs accuse four former priests — George Clements, Paul Smith, John Calicott and Kenneth Brigham — of sexually abusing students.
All four men have died.
Clements, who became nationally known for his work promoting adoption, denied an earlier sexual abuse allegation before his death in 2019. He was never criminally charged.
The lawsuits allege that abuse sometimes occurred repeatedly over extended periods and that priests used their religious authority to manipulate children and discourage them from disclosing what happened.
Plaintiffs Accuse Archdiocese of Knowing About Warning Signs
The lawsuits also focus on what the Archdiocese of Chicago allegedly knew about the accused priests and how church officials responded.
According to attorneys for the former students, church records show that Calicott was removed from ministry in 1994 following abuse allegations but was named pastor of Holy Angels the following year.
The plaintiffs contend that this and other information should have prompted stronger action to protect children.
Attorneys also cited later statements by church officials acknowledging problems with systems intended to monitor clergy accused of misconduct.
The Archdiocese of Chicago told ABC7 that it does not comment on pending litigation.
Survivors may have legal options when a diocese or other Catholic institution failed to respond to warning signs, report suspected abuse or protect children from known risks.
Learn more about Catholic Church sexual abuse lawsuits, settlements and survivor legal options.
Lawsuits Include Allegations of Racial Discrimination
The complaints also raise allegations about race and how reports involving Holy Angels students were handled.
The plaintiffs are described in the lawsuits as overwhelmingly Black boys from low-income families who attended kindergarten through eighth grade.
Their attorneys allege that racial bias contributed to church officials treating reports and warning signs with less urgency or credibility than they otherwise might have.
Those allegations are part of the plaintiffs’ legal claims against the Archdiocese.
More Lawsuits Expected
The seven cases may be only the beginning of broader litigation involving Holy Angels.
Attorneys representing the former students said they expect dozens of additional lawsuits to be filed as more former students come forward.
If that occurs, the Holy Angels cases could become a significant new group of clergy sexual abuse claims against the Archdiocese of Chicago, particularly because the allegations span more than 30 years and involve multiple priests at the same school.
