EFFINGHAM (IL)
Effingham Daily News
December 27, 2018
By Bishop Thomas John Paprocki
The sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests is a disgrace. It demands, and the Diocese of Springfield pledges, continued efforts to bring healing to the victims of these grave sins. The report issued on December 19 by the Illinois Attorney General’s office is, however, highly misleading. Factual clarification is imperative.
Here are the facts specific to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois:
1) The majority of abuse cases occurred over 30 years ago, and only one has occurred since 2002.
2) Of the approximately 650 diocesan priests who have served here since 1923, 41 (6.3 percent) have been accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Nineteen of those were deemed to be substantiated (2.9 percent of all diocesan priests), of whom all have been publicly identified (www.promise.dio.org); 12 are deceased; four are laicized; and three are removed from ministry.
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