Archdiocese Seeking Agreement For Priest Who Doesn't Want To Leave
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago Archdiocese says it looking for a respectful agreement for an 80-year-old priest who is resisting attempts to get him to move from his South Side parish.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, the Archdiocese says it is working with the Rev. Dan Mallette to find the best living situation for him that would meet his health needs and allow him to continue his ministry in some way.
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Mallette has been at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, at 9849 S. Throop St. in the Longwood Manor neighborhood, since 1977. He officially retired as pastor three years ago, and is now being asked to move out of the rectory, the Rev. William O'Donnell, has been named.
O'Donnell will be installed Sunday, but Mallette does not want to go anywhere.
The Archdiocese says it wants Mallette to move out of the rectory because it is in disrepair. In December of last year, he was robbed and beaten in the rectory, and the Archdiocese has been sending round-the-clock caregivers to help Mallette.
Previous reports have said the Archdiocese only wants Mallette to leave for six months, so the rectory can be shut down for repairs and so O'Donnell can make his imprint on the church.
"Everyone at the Archdiocese who is involved in this situation is deeply motivated by respect for Fr. Mallette and his many years of fine service to the Church and the community," the Archdiocese said in a statement.
But Mallette is not pleased with the situation, nor with O'Donnell, whom he says is making life difficult for him.
In a Chicago Sun-Times article published Thursday, Mallette said O'Donnell was "a genius at being a pain in the ass," and accuses him of forbidding from saying mass in the church, cutting off his phone lines, and going back on a pledge to let him stay at St. Margaret of Scotland.
O'Donnell is quoted in the same article as saying Mallette needs to accept his physical limitations and "let go."
