Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. David Francis Braun

This page outlines the documented assignments, substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. David Francis Braun, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Illinois clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: David Francis Braun
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father David Braun, Fr. David Braun, Rev. David Francis Braun
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic Priest, Parish Priest
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. David Francis Braun was publicly identified as a priest with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors through disclosures made by the Archdiocese of Chicago and later through government reporting by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. His name appears on official Church lists of clergy with substantiated allegations and in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 statewide report on Catholic clergy abuse.

These public disclosures occurred decades after the earliest known reports of misconduct and after Braun had retired from active ministry.

Entity that Listed Him:

• Archdiocese of Chicago
• Illinois Attorney General’s Office (2023 Clergy Abuse Report)

Reason for Listing:

• Substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse are documented in the Archdiocese of Chicago records
• Survivor reports reviewed during internal Church investigations
• Inclusion in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report following a statewide inquiry into Catholic clergy abuse in Illinois

Key Status Facts

• Date of Ordination: May 5, 1954
• Years in Active Ministry: 1954–1992
• Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Chicago (Illinois), including multiple parish assignments in Chicago and surrounding suburbs
• Restrictions Placed: Restrictions imposed following later allegations, including removal from public ministry
• Removal / Resignation / Reassignment: Retired from active ministry in 1992; removed from public ministry in January 1994
• Laicization: No public record indicating laicization
• Public Disclosure / Listing Date: Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Chicago in March 2006
• Died: December 1997

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago

Parish and Institutional Assignments (as documented in public records):

• Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Chicago, IL
• St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Chicago, IL
• St. Linus Catholic Church in Oak Lawn, IL
• St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Chicago, IL
• Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Chicago, IL
• St. Lambert Catholic Church in Skokie, IL
• St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Wilmette, IL
• St. Joseph Catholic Church in Round Lake, IL
• St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church in Palatine, IL
• Mater Christi Catholic Church in North Riverside, IL

These assignments reflect Fr. Braun’s movement among numerous parishes within the Archdiocese of Chicago over several decades. The documented placements establish the parish and community settings relevant to the reported allegations.

Non-Church Assignments: Public reporting references Braun’s involvement in parish-based youth activities and informal pastoral interactions with minors. Records also indicate participation in treatment-related programs during periods when concerns about his behavior had been raised. No long-term non-parish institutional employment has been publicly documented.

Known Allegations

Fr. David Francis Braun was the subject of multiple substantiated allegations of sexual abuse involving minors, primarily boys, during his time in parish ministry within the Archdiocese of Chicago. According to Church records and the Illinois Attorney General’s findings, the alleged misconduct occurred between 1954 and 1966, with reports involving multiple locations in Illinois.

The Archdiocese and the Illinois Attorney General report that allegations include abuse reportedly occurring in Chicago, Melrose Park, and other locations during the 1950s and 1960s. The Attorney General’s report identifies abuse periods including 1954, 1958–1960, 1960–1966, and additional incidents reported to have occurred in the mid-1960s.

The earliest documented report dates to 1963, when Church authorities were notified following an allegation involving a 14-year-old boy. Released Church documents, later referenced in public reports, indicate that Braun acknowledged inappropriate conduct. Braun was temporarily removed from ministry and referred for treatment before being reassigned.

Additional survivor reports surfaced years later, including reports made in the early 1990s and after Braun’s death. Public reporting indicates that at least six individuals came forward with allegations of sexual abuse involving Braun. Following internal review, the Archdiocese of Chicago determined that the allegations met the standard for substantiation.

No criminal conviction appears in the public court records. Braun was ultimately included on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s list of clergy with substantiated allegations and in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 clergy abuse report.

Summary: Fr. David Francis Braun was substantiated by the Archdiocese of Chicago as having sexually abused minors in Illinois parish-related settings, with multiple allegations documented in Church records and later publicly disclosed.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Cardinal Samuel Stritch – Archdiocese of Chicago
• Cardinal Albert Gregory Meyer – Archdiocese of Chicago
• Cardinal John Cody – Archdiocese of Chicago

Associated Organizations: Archdiocese of Chicago

Legal / Advocacy Bodies Referenced: Illinois Attorney General’s Office (Clergy Abuse Investigation and Report)

Institutional Actions and Review

Church records and later public reporting indicate that Church leadership was aware of concerns involving Fr. David Francis Braun by 1963, when the Archdiocese was notified of alleged misconduct involving a minor. Following that report, Braun was temporarily removed from ministry and referred for treatment before being returned to parish assignments.

Despite this early intervention, Braun continued to serve in multiple parishes for decades. Public disclosure of the allegations did not occur at the time of the initial reports. Additional allegations reported in the early 1990s led Church authorities to impose restrictions, and Braun was formally removed from public ministry in January 1994, after his retirement.

Subsequent diocesan disclosures and the Illinois Attorney General’s investigation highlighted concerns regarding the handling of early reports, including whether prior complaints were addressed promptly and whether relevant information was communicated during transfers or reassignments. Braun’s name was disclosed publicly years after the earliest known reports and later appeared on the Archdiocese’s listings and the state’s reporting, as well as the list of accused clergy in Illinois.

Timeline

May 5, 1954 — Ordained in the Archdiocese of Chicago

1954–1966 — Period during which multiple alleged abuse incidents reportedly occurred

1963 — Alleged misconduct involving a minor reported; Church authorities notified

1963 — Temporarily removed from ministry and referred for treatment

1950s–1980s — Assigned to multiple Chicago-area parishes

1992 — Retired from active ministry

January 1994 — Removed from public ministry following additional allegations

December 1997 — Died

March 2006 — Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Chicago

2023 — Named in the Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse report

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. David Francis Braun or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. Survivors may be entitled to pursue accountability and compensation under Illinois law, even if the abuse occurred many years ago.

You can speak confidentially with an experienced Illinois clergy abuse attorney to learn more about your rights and the legal paths that may be available to you.

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on public records, official Church disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including the following sources:

• The Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 Report on Catholic Clergy Abuse which lists Fr. David Francis Braun among clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors in Illinois.
• The Archdiocese of Chicago’s official list of clergy with substantiated allegations, where Fr. Braun appears, following internal review and public disclosure.
• BishopAccountability.org, an independent clergy abuse documentation and research organization, which publishes archival records and summaries detailing Fr. Braun’s assignment history, reported allegations, and references to institutional actions reflected in released Church documents.

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church or government reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.