By Ken O'Brien
The Herald News
July 29, 2007
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/488355,4_1_JO29_SARTAIN_S2.article
Joliet — When he was introduced last year to replace Bishop Joseph Imesch, Bishop J. Peter Sartain talked about healing the wounds of people who said that they had been sexually abused by priests.
Two months before Sartain moved to Joliet, the Diocese of Joliet released the names of 22 priests accused of sexually abusing children. Of those, six of the men were criminally convicted, 11 have been named in civil lawsuits and the others were announced in 2002 when they were removed from ministry.
Imesch became a lightning rod for how he handled the cases. Critics charged that he protected priests at the expense of children.
In the last year, Sartain said he has met with victims of priest sexual abuse in the diocese. He said those meetings "were gut-wrenching" and resulted in him praying for them "for healing in whatever way they need it."
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| Bishop J. Peter Sartain speaks during Sunday Mass at Lewis University. Photo by Corey R. Minkanic |
But a Minnesota lawyer who has handled cases against the diocese that are pending in DuPage County said it is "still business as usual" under Sartain. Jeff Anderson has also handled cases in other dioceses around the country, including against the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Linda Pieczynski, who speaks for Call to Action, which aims to reform the Catholic Church, said she and others are still waiting for Sartain to make changes in how the Joliet Diocese operates. Pieczynski lives in the diocese in Hinsdale.
In response to criticism of Imesch for his handling the priest sexual abuse cases, Sartain asked for a chance to be considered on his own merits. He has a message for Imesch's critics in dealing with him.
"I would say them, 'Let's work together.' I am not one to speak about the past. So I would say, 'Let's see what we can do to work together and see how we can go in a way forward in hope and a positive sense of our common dedication to Christ.'
"I am happy to listen, no matter what the issue is or what the past was. But by the same token, I want to move us forward because being a Christian is all about hope and trusting God."
Anderson has represented clients in at least a half dozen lawsuits against the Joliet diocese. He said he bases his opinions about the diocese today on how its lawyers have handled cases since Sartain succeeded Imesch.
"I have seen no changes in transparency, openness or an interest by the bishop to really reach out and help the victims," Anderson said.
Pieczynski said she doesn't know much about Sartain.
"We haven't heard anything about personal issues about his administrative style and you usually hear something when a bishop is upsetting people," she said.
Pieczynski said she has stopped attending church in the diocese and instead goes to church in the Chicago Archdiocese. But she said she would reconsider that decision if Sartain makes changes.
"If there was a real change in heart and if there was a reaching out from the Joliet Diocese to the survivors of sexual abuse, that might make me want to take a second look," Pieczynski said. "Emotionally it is very difficult for me to know that these priests were coddled and that our money was being spent to defend them."
About five years ago, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops created guidelines for handling allegations of sexual abuse against priests. As part of the mandatory reporting requirements, Sartain will issue a yearly report about priest sexual abuse cases in August.
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