Causes.com
| 5.30.23
Almost 2,000 Minors Abused By Catholic Church in Illinois
Should more states undertake their own investigations?
What's the story?
- A 696-page report by the attorney general of Illinois has described over 1,900 cases of sexual abuse and has uncovered 450 credibly accused sexual abusers in their probe into the Catholic Church.
- The Illinois report was initiated by former attorney general Lisa Madigan, who noticed a discrepancy between what the church was disclosing and the sheer volume of accusations.
What did the investigation find?
- These 450 abusers have ministered in the Catholic Church in Illinois over nearly seven decades.
- This number is four times higher than what the Catholic Church publicly disclosed in 2018 when the state began its investigation. Prior to the analysis, the church had only identified 103 individual abusers.
- The report found that since 1950, clergy members and lay religious brothers had abused at least 1,997 children across the state's six dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Chicago.
- The report adds 149 people to the list of child sex abusers the dioceses had publicly identified before or during the investigation. None are believed to be currently working, and at least 330 are believed to be deceased.
- Mike McDonnell, a spokesman for SNAP, an advocacy group for victims of clerical sexual abuse, said:
"This report clearly tells us that no one knew more about abuse, and no one did less about it, than these dioceses themselves."
What is next for the victims?
- Because many of the accused are deceased, and the statute of limitations has expired in some cases, victims have little legal recourse.
- Some states like California and New York have enacted "look-back windows" which allow child sex abuse victims to bring civil claims against perpetrators otherwise protected by a statute of limitations. Illinois has not implemented this window.
- Current Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul said the report was designed to provide "public accountability and a measure of healing to survivors who have long suffered in silence."
- In a statement to CNN, the Diocese of Rockford apologized for "the pain endured by victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse."
Should more states undertake their own investigations?
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo Credit: Flickr/Randy Von Liski)
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Instead of all the book & education bans, anti-LGBTQ legislation go after the known abusers many of which are religious leaders. Make sure the laws allow for prosecution of abusers without time or $$$ limits.
[REPOST] and update
Well, while the Texas State Legislature works to shove their religion down our throats, by 'invading' our bedrooms and doctor offices, now also wish to 'indoctrinate' it in school classrooms by forcing the Ten Commandments to be displayed in any/all schools. Not a done deal yet at this late hour. Legislature ends at midnight tonight.
But, let's not forget where the church has and continues to fall short.
"Catholic clergy sexual abuse of kids was far more common than church acknowledged, Illinois AG finds (from @AP)" https://apnews.com/article/a298133cec9486c2e51172316bfe7b4b
Update ... Ten Commandments bill did not pass!
It all depends on the honesty and reliability of the investigator.
If it were Trump or a Trump appointee, then definitely not.
I'd rather see the drag queens stop grooming children in schools and libraries.
Yes, they should. Moreover, in PA-Catholic Services are allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ+ couples for Foster care and adoption because of their reluigous beleifs. Well, now I say-which group has the WORST histiory of abusing children under their care? Oh right! That's the Catholics!
No religous organization should have anything to do with minors at this point!
There doesn't need to be a witch hunt, but all complaints should be investigated
If there is that many incidents in ONE state, YES, it would be a good idea to check other places.
Better use of taxpayer money than trying to prove election fraud.
I'm from Missouri where we are well aware of the horrific abuses by the Catholic clergy. Other states would be well advised to undertake probes.
If the state investigations are honest and uncorrupted, then this is a good idea.
Priests must be held accountable for their actions, just like all criminals.
Why is this even a question? Does it only matter when YOUR daughters and sons are victims? Or don't you believe them?
We need to tackle sex abuse and pedophila also at evangelical and SBC churches since there such hyprocites
yes, and make them pay taxes.
The Catholic Church has basically been a terrorist organization from the days of the Inquisition to the present day sexual abuse of children and covering it up. They should lose their tax exempt status and be barred from receiving any funds from the federal or state government.
How is the 'church" NOT held accountable for child abuse?
The Law applies to everyone.
These are crimes and we are allowing the Catholic Church to cover them up and facilitate them. No!
We can get 'em every way possible; the more eyes, the better!
Every state that has has found abusers
Why is this a surprise? And its just not 'catholic' ... this is a human disease! Has to start with parents making smarter decisions and being aware rather than dumbed down. Don't have kids if you can't take the responsibility.
YES!!!! Abuse in any form of a minor from any source must be investigated and stopped. It's particularly reprensible that some of this abuse has been conducted by staff in what should be "trusted" institutions and that these institutions knew/know about the abuse and cover it up. If you don't root out evil as it happens, then it will continue to invade that institution and millions of kids are harmed for life.