ILLINOIS
The Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great
The Archdiocese of Chicago recently received an allegation of an inappropriate relationship involving Fr. Brendan Curran, O.P. from an adult single woman. Though the incident occurred a number of years ago and ended, Fr. Brendan acknowledged his actions were inappropriate. Fr. Brendan affirms that this was an isolated instance, and he understands the consequences.
Father Brendan made a poor choice. Everyone does, to varying degrees. But he and his choices are held against a higher standard because he professed religious vows as a friar in the Dominican Order, Province of St. Albert the Great (Central Province, USA). His poor judgment in this instance casts a shadow on his enlightened and courageous ministry to Latino immigrants and the poor at St. Pius V parish and Chicago’s southwest side.
“I deeply regret not self-identifying sooner about my immoral behavior: that was a mistake,” Fr. Brendan said. “I failed to remember my ministry and my commitment as a priest, and for that I cannot apologize enough. I am heartbroken to know that my actions have caused pain to so many people. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize and ask for forgiveness. I plan on trying to make amends by seeking spiritual healing and rededicating myself to God’s service.”
To be clear, there is no indication or allegation of any action reflecting sexual misconduct with minors.
“The woman in this case came forward privately to the Archdiocese, and then to the Dominicans,” Fr. Charles Bouchard, O.P., Prior Provincial said. “She deserves a sincere apology and we also have a responsibility to respect her anonymity and her privacy. We admire her courage and we’re keeping her in our prayers.”
If Fr. Brendan were the CEO of a corporation and she were an employee, a colleague, or a customer, there would be no press release, no media story, and perhaps no apology. But, the Catholic Church is not a corporation, and its leaders inherently carry a larger responsibility to its patrons—a bond of trust, based on a moral code and a unique easement between God and His people.
In line with official protocol, Fr. Brendan’s faculties were revoked on April 30th, which means he can no longer celebrate Mass or the sacraments. He left his position as Pastor at St. Pius V and left the Chicago area shortly thereafter.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.