ILLINOIS
WGN
[with video]
by Sean Lewis
Anchor/Reporter
An Illinois court has ordered the release of church documents related to sexual abuse investigations.
The name of 15 more priests, who worked in the Joliet Diocese from the 1930s through 2006 were released today. All of them, according to church documents, had credible accusations of abuse throughout their career. Many of them continued in their pastoral duties after allegations came to light, sometimes being transferred from church to church through the Joliet Diocese.
Of the 15 priests named today, five of them are now dead. The 10 others have been removed from ministry roles.
In his order, Judge Michael Powers said there is a compelling public interest to protect children from being sexually exploited and abused and that any privacy rights of individual priests must yield to the state’s public interest to protect children.
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