Judge rules former priest as ‘sexually violent’

Posted on September 8, 2017

 

Priest Daniel McCormack stands in a security line at 26th & Calif. to plead guilty to charges involving sexual abuse of five boys. (Photo courtesy of Brian Jackson/Sun-Times)

 

By Sean Copeland

CHICAGO– A Cook County Judge has ruled a former catholic priest a ‘Sexually Violent Person.’

The decision from Circuit Court Judge Dennis Porter comes before the former priest, 48-year-old Daniel McCormack is to attend a dispositional hearing on November 27th. McCormack, formerly of St. Agatha’s church in Chicago will remain in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

“Daniel McCormack has a history of repeated sexual abuse against children that was especially heinous given his status as a priest,” said Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

McCormack had pled guilty in 2007 to aggravated criminal sexual abuse for molesting five underage boys when he was serving as a priest in Chicago. He was later defrocked after his conviction, which lead to accusations he had abused more than 20 additional boys in the St. Agatha Parish in North Lawndale.

McCormack allegedly used his various positions as a priest, teacher, and basketball coach in order to abuse boys left in his care.

Sean Copeland can be reached at [email protected]

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