Catholic Clergy Sexually Abused Nearly 2,000 Illinois Kids Since 1950, State Finds

An investigation spearheaded by the Illinois attorney general has found disturbing results surrounding allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.

Investigators found that 451 clergy have sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950. A number significantly more than the 103 individuals the church had named when the state started its probe in 2018, the Associated Press reported.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Attorney General Kwame Raoul credited accusers for making the review possible. He said state investigators learned that clergy abused 1,997 children across Illinois between 1950 and 2019.

“It is my hope that this report will shine light both on those who violated their positions of power and trust to abuse innocent children, and on the men in church leadership who covered up that abuse,” Raoul added. “These perpetrators may never be held accountable in a court of law, but by naming them here, the intention is to provide a public accountability and a measure of healing to survivors who have long suffered in silence.”

A preliminary investigation was conducted by Raoul’s predecessor, Lisa Madigan, and discovered that the state’s dioceses concluded only 26% of allegations were “credible” and dismissed the other 74% by feeling them “unsubstantiated.”

Following the news, The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests made a statement, calling the report “stunning” and believing that the numbers of victims and abusers cited by state investigators are likely still undercounted.

“There is no questioning the facts of the report — until 2018 when the investigation began, hierarchs in every Illinois diocese kept known abusers under wraps, declined to include them on their accused lists, and refused to acknowledge the truth that survivors of abuse who came forward to make a report shared with them,” the statement said. It is to us, in a word, disgusting that these supposed shepherds would lie so blatantly.”

Madigan’s preliminary report found that the church’s six dioceses had done a woefully inadequate job investigating allegations against clergy. In some cases didn’t even launch an investigation into claims or notify the state’s child welfare agency.

Some allegations date back decades, including claims against priests who have since died. Still, the preliminary report didn’t include details that would help determine if the church was negligent in some cases, such as when allegations were made.

Madigan’s report didn’t accuse the dioceses of not disclosing the names of clergy who the church said had been “credibly” accused or against whom abuse claims had been “substantiated” in the church’s own investigation.

But, it did create a list of accused abusers that was longer than what the church had handed over.

Madigan’s office also cited the problems as beyond a lack of effort by the church, saying in some cases, the church actually worked against accusers.

Illinois church leaders have expressed their regret about the abuse and referenced the steps they had taken to address the now international problem.