Father Dan Mallette Moves Out Of South Side Parish
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A beloved Southwest Side priest is not at his church this morning.
Father Dan Mallette moved into a new home in Oak Lawn.
The Chicago archdiocese ordered the 80-year-old to leave the rectory at St. Margaret of Scotland Church.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Mallette moved into a private residence on Sunday. A new pastor, Rev. William O'Donnell, officially took over Mallette's duties last month
Church leaders say the rectory was unsafe and needed repairs.
Mallette was brutally beaten during a robbery at the rectory earlier this year.
Mallette wasn't happy about being forced out as pastor, or being asked to move out of the home where he's lived for so long.
Earlier this month, Mallette left the church to attend a wake, knowing his remaining time at St. Margaret of Scotland is very short, but not knowing just where he's headed.
"First time since I was a baby that I don't have a place to sleep," he said.
But the Archdiocese of Chicago said that's not true. Spokeswoman Colleen Dolan told WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya that Mallette has been given a number of options, including priest retirement homes and other accommodations.
Dolan said every pastor who retires must move out of the parish he ran, so the new pastor has a chance to put his own stamp on the parish. Those retired pastors are allowed to move back into the parish, if they like, after six months.
Dolan said Mallette needs round-the-clock help from a health and safety standpoint, and that moving to a new location would make that easier.
