A retired priest who worked in multiple churches in the Chicago-area has been accused of sexual abuse against a minor, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced on Saturday.
In a letter sent Saturday to the St. Francis Borgia Parish, archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich wrote that Monsignor Daniel Mayall was accused of sexually abusing a minor about 30 years ago while serving at the church located in the Dunning neighborhood. Mayall served at the St. Francis Borgia Parish from July 1993 to January 2002. He “strenuously denies” the allegations against him, Cupich said.
Mayall has been ordered by the church to remain out of the ministry and away from all parish and school activities while civil authorities investigate, according to the letter. The church will also conduct its own investigation into Mayall.
“The Archdiocese of Chicago takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and encourages anyone who feels they have been sexually abused by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee to come forward,” Cupich said.
Mayall also served as a pastor for the St. Joseph Parish in Wilmette from July 2016 to December 2018, according to a separate letter sent Saturday to the Saints Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish. He then served as senior priest of the St. Joseph Parish from January to June 2019, and then as senior priest of the Saints Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish from January 2019 to June 2021. Mayall has continued to reside at the parish following retirement, according to the letter.
Mayall was also a rector for Holy Name Cathedral beginning in January 2002. He served the Rush & Division church until June 2016 and joined Cupich for mass in November for Holy Name Cathedral’s 175th anniversary.
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