CHICAGO (IL)
Catholic Online
[with video]
CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) – Lawyers for the sex abuse victims of 30 Chicago-area priests have released a cache of documents detailing the abuses of children and the efforts of diocesan officials to cover up the scandals. Documents in the cache include letters from Cardinals Joseph Bernardin and Francis George.
There are 6,000 documents in the dump, and would-be readers are advised to think before reading them because of some of the graphic details within them.
May St. Michael destroy the evil within our communities, let us daily pray!
It is clear today that the American Catholic Church has erred in how some diocese handled allegations of abuse by priests in decades past. An untold number of children likely faced abuse and some clergy may have gone unpunished.
Both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis have cracked down very hard on the issue and made clear to Church officials that local law, and not just Church law, applies to all allegations. Church officials are now required, on the basis of any credible accusation, to notify local law enforcement officials and to refer cases directly to the Vatican. Those accused are not to be allowed contact with children and may be immediately suspended from duties while investigations proceed.
Thorough background checks and greater transparency are also required.
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