UNITED STATES
Chicago Tribune

Few clergy who fled the U.S. after being accused of sexual abuse of minors have been returned to face the charges

Web application by David Eads, Katie Nieland, Joe Germuska, Brian Boyer
Research and reporting by David Jackson, Gary Marx, Brian Boyer

March 11, 2012

Since 1985, at least 32 Roman Catholic priests have left the United States for their home countries while facing criminal charges or a police investigation over allegations that they sexually assaulted or abused minors, according to federal warrants, news reports and law enforcement sources. Only five have been returned to the U.S. to face trial; some died abroad. The number of fugitive priests grows by more than two dozen if it includes those who left the country while facing internal church probes or civil allegations of child sex misconduct, instead of a criminal investigation, and those who were transferred…