IL Catholic churches concealed widespread sexual abuse to nearly 2,000 children, investigation shows

https://www.reckon.news/news/2023/05/illinois-catholic-church-concealed-widespread-sexual-abuse-to-nearly-2k-children-investigation-reveals.html



The Illinois Attorney General’s office found the state’s six dioceses “covered up” for hundreds of clergy accused of sexually abusing children, according to a report on the multi-year investigation. The diocese had previously publicly reported 103 credibly, but the AG’s investigation found evidence of 451 Catholic clergy who abused just shy of 2,000 children (1,997), according to the report. For many of the cases, the statute of limitations has expired, which means these cases cannot be tried in criminal court.

Furthermore, according to the investigation’s findings, numerous cases of sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy members were either ignored or significantly downplayed by the church hierarchy. Victims reported a consistent pattern of being discouraged from reporting incidents to the authorities, instead being directed to internal processes that often failed to result in appropriate action being taken against the perpetrators.

Survivors of the abuse have expressed deep disappointment and anger at the church’s mishandling of their cases. Many have accused the church of prioritizing its reputation over the well-being of its members, and have called for a thorough investigation into the alleged cover-up. Additionally, survivors are seeking justice through the legal system, aiming to hold both individual perpetrators and the institution accountable for their actions.

“As an adult I’ve learned how it affects you and how it just breaks you down. It was in my first confessional and extremely painful,” said Eddie Burkel, a survivor of sexual abuse in the Joliet diocese. Burkel was a 13-year-old altar boy at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Bolingbrook when he was abused by Father James Nowak, he told ABC 7 Chicago. He is one of 28 survivors abused by Nowak.

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