80-Year-Old Priest Beaten And Robbed

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Dec 6, 2011 11:30PM

South Side priest Daniel Mallette was awakened from his bed at 12:30 a.m. by robbers who beat him with a blunt instrument and kicked him, resulting in broken ribs and a swollen face. Mallette, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Saturday, has been with St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church in Longwood Manor since 1977.The robbers entered the church rectory, forced Mallette to his knees and demanded money. When he said there was none, they beat him until he led them to a safe containing $600. The Tribune writes:

"He kept saying the act of contrition (a prayer expressing sorrow for sins) and they kept smacking him, telling him to shut up," said Patrick Catania, 62, chairman of the parish council and a lifelong parishioner. "He told them he was saying it because he wanted to go to heaven."

Mallette was treated and released from the hospital. No arrests have been made. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has been one of Mallette's parishioners for 30 years. He attended Mallette's birthday party Saturday and rushed to the emergency room when he heard of the attack. "It just reinforces to you that we have evil in our society," said Dart.