Chicago Archdiocese Pays 5.4 Million Dollars to Settle Nine Clergy Abuse Claims
The Archdiocese of Chicago reached out-of-court settlements totaling $5.4 million with nine individuals who alleged sexual abuse by eight priests, attorneys announced September 10. The claims involve abuse that occurred between the 1970s and 1990s, when victims were between ages 6 and 14.
The Archdiocese of Chicago agreed to pay $5.4 million to settle sexual abuse claims brought by nine individuals, attorneys announced on September 10, 2026.
The settlements involve allegations against eight priests and cover abuse that occurred between the 1970s and 1990s. The victims were between 6 and 14 years old at the time of the alleged abuse.
The legal firms Jeff Anderson & Associates and Pearlman and Anderson announced the settlements. The cases were made possible by Illinois legislation that eliminated the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse lawsuits.
The eight priests named in the claims are Michael Cepon of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Russell Romano of Quigley Preparatory Seminary South High School, Clement Carroll of Our Lady of Peace School, William Devereux of St. Martha of Bethany Church, James Sayers of St. Joseph Parish and St. John Neumann Parish, Norbert Mayday of Our Lady of the Ridge, David Braun of St. Francis Xavier campus, and William O'Connor of St. Paul Catholic Church.
Four of those priests, including Cepon, Carroll, Sayers, and O'Connor, are not currently listed on the Archdiocese of Chicago's public list of credibly accused clergy.
The archdiocese's cumulative payouts to survivors have now exceeded $400 million.
At the announcement, attorneys also introduced a new searchable database called the "Catholic Clergy Offender Finder," designed to document accused clergy members worldwide.
The archdiocese continues to manage abuse allegations through its Office of Child Abuse Investigations and Review.
