A local priest who was asked to step aside over allegations of sexual abuse of a minor was reinstated by the Chicago Archdiocese on Saturday.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services closed their investigation of the Rev. Martin “Marty” Marren, who was temporarily relieved of his duties on Nov. 9. The priest had agreed to no longer continue serving while the investigation took place, according to the archdiocese.
The Archdiocese for the Protection of Children and Youth presented their findings to the Independent Review Board, which found no reasonable cause to believe Marren sexually abused a minor. The board recommended the file be closed and allow Marren to return to ministry.
Marren was currently serving as the associate pastor at St. John Fisher in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood and St. Cajetan Parish in the city’s Morgan Park community. The original announcement was made through a letter from Cardinal Blase Cupich that was read at the weekend Masses on Nov. 9 and 10.
Priests at several parishes that Marren served at announced those findings over his reinstatement during the weekend Masses on Nov. 16 and 17.
Marren was a deacon in 1983 at the former St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park, and was ordained in 1984. He served as an associate pastor at St. Germaine Parish in Oak Lawn from 1984 through 1991, and St. Barnabas Parish in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood from 1991 through 1997.
He also served as an associate pastor at St. Gerald Parish in Oak Lawn from 1997 through 2004. He was the pastor at Queen of Martyrs Parish in Evergreen Park from 2018 through 2022.
“It is important to stress that the welfare of the children entrusted to our care is of paramount importance,” Cupich wrote in the letter. “It is for that reason we take all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously. At the same time, we must restore the good name of anyone so accused when the allegations are found to be unsubstantiated.
“To that end, I publicly affirm that Father Marren is a priest in good standing and express sincere appreciation for his many years of service to the people of God in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He deserves our respect and gratitude and I hope you will join me in thanking him for his long standing dedication.”