Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Donald John Mulsoff

This page outlines the assignments, allegations, and institutional actions involving Fr. Donald John Mulsoff, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s work representing survivors of clergy abuse in Illinois. 

• Primary Entity Name: Donald John Mulsoff 
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Donald Mulsoff, Fr. Donald J. Mulsoff 
• Role/Title at Time of Alleged Abuse: Parish priest, pastor 
• Current Status: Deceased (Nov. 2005); no longer in public ministry

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Donald John Mulsoff was publicly identified in connection with allegations of sexual abuse of minors through sources that include:

• The Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse database 
• The Archdiocese of Chicago’s substantiated allegations list
• Public reporting republished by Bishop Accountability 

He was credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors and received restricted ministry and required supervision before he was removed from public ministry in 2002. 

• Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Chicago; Illinois Attorney General
• Reason for Listing: Substantiated/credible allegations reviewed under church processes; listed in public disclosures

Key Status Facts

Ordination: May 14, 1969

Archdiocesan action noted: “Limited Ministry with Restrictions & Monitoring” (March 2002)

Removed from public ministry: May 2002

Reported survivors (state database): 7 

Diocese claim of first report (state database): 1992 

Death: Nov. 2005 

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago 

Parish assignments:

• St. Catherine of Alexandria- Oak Lawn, Illinois (1969 – 1974)
• Mary, Queen of Heaven- Cicero, Illinois (1974 – 1980)
• Blessed Sacrament- Chicago, Illinois (1980 – 1985)
• St. Mary of Perpetual Help- Chicago, Illinois (1985 – 2000)
• St. Celestine- Elmwood Park, Illinois (2000 – 2002)
• Immaculate Conception – Chicago, Illinois (dates not specified)

Known Allegations

Public records describe allegations that Mulsoff sexually abused a minor during his early assignments, including allegations tied to St. Catherine of Alexandria in Oak Lawn. One public summary states he was removed in 2002 after an allegation was reported that he fondled a boy (age 10) during his St. Catherine assignment, described as occurring in the late 1960s or early 1970s. 

The Illinois Attorney General’s database lists reported abuse locations and time periods, including 1969–1974 (Oak Lawn) and 1978–1988 (Chicago), and a separate entry for 1983 (Oak Lawn).

Media reporting from May 2002 (republished by BishopAccountability) described a survivor’s account tied to St. Catherine (Oak Lawn) and discussed the survivor’s efforts to press for institutional reform. 

Summary: Mulsoff was accused of sexual abuse involving minors, with reported abuse periods spanning multiple years and locations in Illinois, as reflected in state and church-related public disclosures. 

Institutional Actions and Review

The Illinois Attorney General’s database lists the Archdiocese’s claimed first report date as 1992. One compiled public summary states the survivor first reported anonymously in 1992 and was told Mulsoff was being monitored. This was many years before he was named on the list of Illinois credibly accused priests. 

On the Archdiocese of Chicago’s substantiated allegations list, Mulsoff is shown as placed in “Limited Ministry with Restrictions & Monitoring” in March 2002 and then removed from public ministry in May 2002. Contemporary reporting in late May 2002 also described the Archdiocese removing him from ministry after complaints dating back decades. 

A timeline document hosted by BishopAccountability (summarizing entries from Archdiocesan document releases) references additional internal steps and later reports, including a July 31, 2003, request to the CDF for a canonical trial, and a July 22, 2005, decree signed by Cardinal Francis George. 

That same timeline records later allegation reports logged after Mulsoff’s death, including entries dated Dec. 10, 2007, Aug. 22, 2008, and multiple entries in Jan.–Feb. 2014, tied to specific parish contexts. 

Allegations included boys stating they were spanked bare bottom, and one student stated the priest asked him about watching pornography. A concerned mother reported that she thought the priest was dating her daughter and abusing her son. Despite repeated allegations, he was not removed from ministry. 

Timeline

May 14, 1969 — Ordained a priest (Archdiocese of Chicago)

1969–1974 — St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn, Illinois 

1974–1980 — Mary, Queen of Heaven, Cicero, Illinois 

1980–1985 — Blessed Sacrament, Chicago, Illinois

1985–2000 — St. Mary of Perpetual Help, Chicago, Illinois 

1992 — Diocese claim of first report 

March 2002 — Limited Ministry with Restrictions & Monitoring

May 2002 — Removed from public ministry

2000–2002 — St. Celestine, Elmwood Park, Illinois 

July 31, 2003 — Case forwarded to the CDF for canonical trial 

July 22, 2005 — Decree signed by Cardinal Francis George 

Nov. 3, 2005 — Died 

March 2006 — Included on Archdiocese public list 

Dec. 10, 2007 — Report logged alleging abuse at Mary Queen of Heaven (1976–1978) 

Aug. 22, 2008 — Report logged alleging abuse at St. Catherine (about 1970) 

Jan.–Feb. 2014 — Additional reports logged regarding alleged abuse at St. Catherine 

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Donald John Mulsoff or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors statewide and can discuss confidential next steps. 

Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse lawyer. 

Sources and Public Records

Details are based on diocesan disclosures, public records, and survivor reports

Key sources used include:

• The Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse database entry for Mulsoff
• The Archdiocese of Chicago’s personnel file of the priest
• Chicago Sun Times reporting republished by Bishop Accountability. 

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