Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Michael Weston

This page outlines the assignments, allegations, and institutional actions involving Fr. Michael Howard Weston, 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: Michael Howard Weston
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Michael Weston, Fr. Michael Weston, Michael Weston
• Role/Title at Time of Alleged Abuse: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Removed from ministry; listed as credibly accused by the Archdiocese of Chicago; living status not publicly disclosed

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Michael Weston was publicly identified as a priest with credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors by multiple entities, including:

• The Archdiocese of Chicago 
• The Illinois Attorney General’s Office 2023 report

He was credibly accused of sexually abusing several boys in the 1970s and 1980s. 

• Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois Attorney General, Bishop Accountability
• Reason for Listing: Multiple substantiated child sexual abuse allegations involving minors in Illinois

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1973

Years in Active Ministry: 1973–2003

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois

Locations Served: Multiple parishes in Cook County, IL

Restrictions: Resigned in 1993; laicized in 2009

Criminal Charges: None publicly documented

Civil Lawsuits: Referenced in survivor reports and institutional reviews

Public Disclosure: First publicly listed in March 2006

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago

Based on Archdiocesan disclosures and documentation summarized by public records, Michael Weston served in parish ministry at multiple locations in the Chicago area, including:

• St. Linus – Oak Lawn, IL (1973–1975)
• Newman Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, and St. Teresa of Avila – Chicago, IL (1975–1977)
• St. Julie Billiart – Tinley Park, IL (1977–1981), also Chaplain at Moraine Valley Community College
• Mater Christi – North Riverside, IL (1982–1986)
• Sacred Heart – Winnetka, IL (dates not specified)
• Resurrection Parish – Chicago, IL (dates not specified)
• St. Eulalia – Maywood, IL (dates not specified)

These assignments placed Weston in parish settings involving regular interaction with children, including altar servers and youth involved in church activities.

Known Allegations

According to records published by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and summaries compiled by BishopAccountability.org, Michael Weston allegedly engaged in sexual abuse of minors during his parish ministry between approximately 1973 and 1981. 

The alleged abuse occurred while Weston was serving as a parish priest in Cook County, Illinois, during the early years following his ordination.

Survivor reports describe abuse involving boys who were minors at the time and who interacted with Weston through parish activities. The alleged conduct was not reported to civil authorities at the time it occurred. 

Survivors later stated that fear, confusion, and Weston’s authority as a priest contributed to delayed disclosure, a pattern common in clergy abuse cases. One incident was reported in the 1970s, and the Church took no action. 

The first known report that Church authorities admitted to was received by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2002, according to the Illinois Attorney General’s database. Following review of survivor statements and internal records, the Archdiocese determined that the allegations met the threshold for credibility. 

Weston was removed from ministry, and his name was publicly disclosed in March 2006 on the Archdiocese’s list of priests with substantiated allegations.

There is no public record of Weston being arrested, charged, or convicted in a criminal court. The allegations remain documented through diocesan disclosures, the Illinois Attorney General’s report, and survivor advocacy records.

Summary: Weston was credibly accused of sexually abusing multiple victims in the 1970s and 1980s. He resigned in 1993 and was laicized in 2009.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Cardinal John Cody – Archdiocese of Chicago (early years of ministry)
• Cardinal Joseph Bernardin – Archdiocese of Chicago
• Cardinal Francis George – Archbishop during the period of disclosure and public listing

Institutional Actions and Review

The Archdiocese of Chicago reviewed allegations against Michael Weston as part of broader internal investigations into clergy sexual abuse that intensified after 2002. According to the Illinois Attorney General’s database and Archdiocesan disclosures, the review included examination of personnel records, survivor statements, and historical parish files.

After receiving a report in 2002, Church officials evaluated the available documentation and determined that the allegations were credible under Archdiocesan standards. 

Weston was removed from ministry, but the Archdiocese did not consider it necessary to take any action because he had resigned in 1993. The Archdiocese later publicly disclosed his name in March 2006, when it released a list of priests with substantiated allegations.

There is no indication that law enforcement pursued criminal charges. Survivor advocates have criticized the delayed disclosure, noting that the alleged abuse occurred decades before any public acknowledgment and that earlier institutional action may have prevented additional harm.

Injury Lawyer Team can help you if you or a loved one has suffered clergy abuse. We fight alongside you to secure the compensation you deserve and hold Illinois priests accused of abuse accountable. 

Timeline

1973 — Ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago

1973 – 1993 — Active ministry

1973–1981 — Period during which alleged abuse reportedly occurred

1993 — Resigned

2002 — Archdiocese receives report of abuse

2002–2005 — Internal review conducted

March 2006 — Weston was publicly listed as a priest with substantiated allegations

Post-2006 — Remains listed as credibly accused

2009 — Laicized

2014 — Personnel file released

2023 — Listed in the Illinois Attorney General’s report; notes nine survivors 

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you love was abused by Fr. Michael Weston or another priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, you may still have legal options under Illinois law. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse statewide.

Contact a clergy sexual abuse lawyer in Illinois to learn more about your legal options.  

Sources

This page is based on public records, official Church disclosures, and survivor reports. No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in court records.

Sources include

• The Illinois Attorney General maintains a Clergy Abuse Database, which lists Father Weston as credibly accused. 
• BishopAccountability.org also maintains a list of credibly accused priests in the United States. They have copies of his personnel file, which provides documents related to the Church’s investigation of the abuse. 
• The Archdiocese of Chicago ensures the public has access to a complete list of credibly accused clergy. 

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.