The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) recently made the Archdiocese aware of an investigation that Marren sexually abused a child.
On Saturday, November 9, Cardinal Blase Cupich announced to parishioners of various Chicago-area parishes that he removed Rev. Martin Marren from ministry at St. Cajetan and St. John Fisher parishes due to an allegation that Marren sexually abused a minor child.
Marren previously served at the following parishes as either a priest or deacon:
- Our Lady of St. Germaine
- St. Gerald
- St. John Neumann (St. Emeric)
- St. Gianna
- St. Barnabas
- St. Bernadette
- Queen of Martyrs
Marren was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1984.
According to letters sent to the parishes by Cardinal Cupich, Marren’s ability to work as a priest has been restricted pending the investigation. He has also been directed to live away from the parish until futher notice. According to the Cardinal, these steps were taken in accordance with the Archdiocese’s internal child protection policies.
No details have been made available about the nature of the allegation, such as the date of the alleged abuse, nor the age or gender of the alleged victim.
This is not the first time a priest associated with St. Cajetan has been accused of sexually abusing kids. Fr. Joseph Kissane, who is now deceased, previously worked at the parish and has been accused of molesting several girls he met during the course of his priesthood in Chicago. Kissane was removed from ministry in 1991 and laicized by the Vatican in 2010.
Horowitz Law attorney Jessica Arbour has worked on cases involving the Archdiocese of Chicago for more than 20 years, and was instrumental in the development of a claims resolution process now being used as an alternative to litigation in the Chicago Archdiocese. If you or a loved one have been harmed by Marren or anyone else affiliated with the Archdiocese of Chicago, please contact her confidentially today.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by religious authority figures and other clergy. If you need a lawyer because a member of a religious organization sexually abused you, contact us today at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse nationwide. We can help.