Chicago Archdiocese: Man With Multiple Child Sex Abuse Allegations Taught in Schools for Over a Year
The Archdiocese of Chicago permitted a man with prior child molestation allegations to work in multiple Catholic schools for about a year. Brett Smith was employed as a tutor and substitute teacher in at least three archdiocesan schools. Smith also tutored in the home of at least one student enrolled in an archdiocesan school. The archdiocese stated it was unaware of any sexual misconduct allegations against Smith during his employment in their schools. One family filed a police complaint against Smith regarding conduct that occurred while he was tutoring in their home.
about 1 month ago
The Archdiocese of Chicago revealed that Brett Smith, also known as BJ Smith and formerly Brett Zagorac, worked as a tutor and substitute teacher in at least three Catholic schools for over a year before being fired.1
The archdiocese described his employment as "alarming," noting he passed state background and fingerprint checks when hired in 2024.1
One family in the south suburbs filed a police complaint against Smith for conduct during home tutoring of their son enrolled in an archdiocesan school.1
The archdiocese stated it received no allegations of sexual misconduct against him while he worked in the schools.1
Court records show Smith (as Zagorac) was charged in Indiana in 2005 with child molestation from a 2003 incident involving inappropriate touching of a second-grade boy.1
A 2016 Chicago Tribune report detailed his guilty pleas: time served for touching two Schererville students in 2002, misdemeanor battery for nine 2005 DuPage County school incidents, and another for touching a 5-year-old he tutored in 2009.1
He reportedly used aliases like "B.J. the Educator," B.J. Zagor, and others.1
The archdiocese notified families via email on January 25, 2026, confirming his termination.1
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating; it declined comment on the active case.1
The archdiocese did not respond to media requests for further comment.1
Investigate ecclesiastical safeguards against sexual abuse in Catholic schools
The Catholic Church maintains a multifaceted framework of ecclesiastical safeguards against sexual abuse in Catholic schools, emphasizing prevention through formation and codes of conduct, structured responses to allegations led by bishops, and ongoing oversight rooted in canon law and pastoral guidelines. These measures prioritize the protection of minors, accountability for clerics and educators, and cooperation with civil authorities, reflecting the Church's mission to create safe environments for evangelization and education.
Catholic schools are called to foster a distinctly Christian environment that safeguards morals and orthodoxy, with bishops holding authority to oversee religious instruction and ethical conduct. This includes active cooperation from parents, teachers, and school leaders to maintain a "distinctive Christian educational environment," where any threats to this character—such as moral failings—can prompt hierarchical intervention. School leadership must explicitly align the curriculum and educational project with Catholic identity, respecting conscience while ensuring all official acts reflect Gospel values.
A key preventive tool is the establishment of mission statements or codes of conduct, legally reinforced through employment contracts. These outline expected values and behaviors, allowing sanctions for non-compliance as a matter of professional integrity, even amid civil laws against discrimination. Such instruments help exclude risks like the return of clerics to ministry if they pose a "danger for minors or a cause of scandal."[2†L i)] Broader formation efforts, including media literacy in schools, equip students and educators to navigate influences that could undermine chastity or expose minors to harm. Recent papal guidance underscores digital education as essential, urging adults to act as "artisans of education" in protecting minors from technological risks like AI-generated threats.
The Church mandates clear procedures for handling sexual abuse of minors by clerics, with diocesan bishops bearing primary responsibility. Episcopal conferences develop guidelines that protect victims, facilitate assistance and reconciliation, and harmonize resources across dioceses.[2† Conclusion] These include notifying civil authorities as per local laws, ensuring just sustenance for the accused during processes, and forming consultative bodies—though these cannot replace a bishop's discernment and governing authority (potestas regiminis).[2† f.) g.) h.)]
Pastoral responses explicitly address child sexual abuse, as noted in U.S. bishops' documents like Walk in the Light (1995), which forms part of the Church's toolkit for faithful citizenship and moral formation. Victims' care remains central, with commissions like the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors providing guidance to make the Church "an increasingly safe place for minors and vulnerable adults." Annual reports on safeguarding policies track progress, confronting the "scandal of abuse" through bridge-building and networks.
Bishops and school communities collaborate to verify Catholic identity, with leaders dialoguing with pastors to embed safeguards in daily operations. This aligns with the Church's educational mission, where schools participate in evangelization while practicing a "grammar of dialogue" that respects identity without ambiguity. Papal teachings reinforce this: Pope Francis highlighted sincerity in dialogue to transform competition into cooperation, while Pope Leo XIV calls for ethical AI standards and policy updates to protect minors' dignity.
In contexts like South Africa or Uruguay, popes have affirmed the Church's right to maintain schools' identity, urging state support without monopolies that hinder parental choice or moral formation. Where controversies arise, hierarchical authority intervenes to preserve the school's Christian atmosphere.
While these sources outline robust ecclesiastical principles—prioritizing minors' safety, episcopal governance, and preventive structures—implementation occurs at the diocesan level, adapting to local civil laws.[2† g.)] Gaps in the provided references, such as detailed lay educator protocols, highlight the need for ongoing renewal, as bishops continue to refine guidelines faithful to tradition.[1† Introduction]