Fake Abuse Claims - Chicago Archdiocese Can Continue Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed in 2025, says that more than two dozen people took part in a plan to make false abuse accusations in order to receive money from settlement payments by the archdiocese.
According to court documents, the group allegedly recruited people to make claims, coached them on what to say, and shared the money received from settlements. The archdiocese says its investigation was helped by recorded prison phone calls in which the alleged scheme was discussed.
The recent ruling does not decide whether the allegations are true. It only rejects efforts to dismiss the case and allows the Archdiocese's lawsuit to continue.
The abuse claims involve former priest Daniel McCormack, who pleaded guilty in 2007 to several counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and has many confirmed victims.
Cardinal Blase Cupich said the Church has a duty to support real victims while also challenging claims it believes are false.
The case will now continue in the Illinois courts.
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