Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Thomas J. Fitzgerald

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

• Primary Entity Name: Thomas J. Fitzgerald
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Thomas Fitzgerald, Fr. Thomas J. Fitzgerald, Thomas Fitzgerald
• Role/Title at Time of Alleged Abuse: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Removed from ministry; listed as credibly accused; deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Thomas J. Fitzgerald was publicly identified as a priest with credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors through disclosures compiled by BishopAccountability.org and listings maintained by the Archdiocese of Chicago. His name appears in public summaries of accused clergy released as part of the Church’s post-2002 transparency efforts.

According to publicly available records, allegations against Fitzgerald involve abuse of minors during his parish ministry in the Chicago area. The Archdiocese later acknowledged the allegations and included Fitzgerald on its list of clergy with abuse claims.

Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Chicago; BishopAccountability.org

Reason for Listing: Credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors during parish ministry

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1942
Years in Active Ministry: 1940s through the early 1990s
Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois
Locations Where He Served: Multiple parishes in the Chicago area
Restrictions: Removed from ministry
Criminal Charges: None publicly documented
Public Disclosure: Included on public lists of accused clergy after internal review
Died: Yes

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Chicago

Parish Assignments (as listed by public records)

• St. Therese of the Infant Jesus –  Chicago, IL (dates not specified)
• St. Thomas the Apostle – Chicago, IL (1968-1988)

Publicly available summaries do not list complete date ranges for every assignment, but confirm that Fitzgerald remained in parish ministry for decades before allegations surfaced and were formally reviewed.

Known Allegations

Thomas J. Fitzgerald was accused of sexually abusing minors while serving as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The alleged abuse occurred during his active ministry, primarily in the 1970s and 1980s, and involved children who were under his pastoral supervision at the time.

Survivor accounts indicate that the alleged abuse was not reported when it occurred. As in many clergy abuse cases, survivors later stated that fear, confusion, and the authority held by Fitzgerald as a priest contributed to delayed disclosure. The allegations came to light years later during broader investigations into clergy sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

After reviewing survivor statements and internal records, the Archdiocese determined that the allegations met the standard for credibility. Fitzgerald was removed from ministry and later publicly identified as a priest with abuse allegations.

There is no public record of Fitzgerald being arrested, charged, or convicted in a criminal court. The allegations remain documented through diocesan disclosures and survivor advocacy records.

Summary: Thomas J. Fitzgerald was credibly accused of sexually abusing minors during his parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago, but was already resigned from ministry.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

Cardinal John Cody – Archdiocese of Chicago
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin – Archdiocese of Chicago

Institutional Actions and Review

The Archdiocese of Chicago reviewed allegations against Thomas J. Fitzgerald as part of broader internal examinations of clergy sexual abuse that intensified after 2002. According to documentation summarized by BishopAccountability.org, the review involved examination of personnel records, survivor statements, and historical parish information.

Following this review, the Archdiocese later included him on the Archdiocese’s public list of clergy accused of sexual abuse of minors. No contemporaneous parish warnings from the time of the alleged abuse have been documented.

When allegations were acknowledged in 2002, Fitzgerald was no longer practicing as a minister. He had already passed away when he was found on the Illinois priests with sexual abuse accusations list in 2023. 

Survivor advocates have criticized the delayed disclosure, noting that the alleged abuse occurred decades before any public acknowledgment and that earlier institutional intervention may have prevented additional harm.

Timeline

1942 — Ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago

1968 – 1988 — Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle

1970s–1980s — Period during which alleged abuse reportedly occurred

Early 1990s — End of active ministry

Post-2002 — Archdiocese reviews allegations during broader clergy abuse investigations

After review — Fitzgerald was publicly listed as accused

2007  — Fitzgerald died

2024 — Listed by the Archdiocese as a priest accused of sexual abuse

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you love was abused by Fr. Thomas J. Fitzgerald 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 across the state.

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

Sources

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

Sources include:

• BishopAccountability.org, which maintains records and documentation related to allegations against Fr. Thomas J. Fitzgerald, including parish assignments and disclosure history.
• Legacy.com maintains online records of obituaries, and lists the death date as 2007.

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.