By Howard Packowitz

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria, which covers McLean County, is responding to the findings of the Illinois Attorney General’s office, which said it’s found many more cases of child sexual abuse in the state’s six dioceses.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan said her office has identified at least another 500 potential cases on top of the 185 clergy members identified by the church as suspected child molesters.

In a statement, the Peoria Diocese said it has fully cooperated with Madigan’s investigation, and has reported to prosecutors all known cases of sexual abuse regardless of when they happened.

Madigan said many cases were never investigated.

“First time allegations were almost never taken seriously. The church didn’t investigate if the priest was dead. They didn’t investigate when the priest had left the country. They didn’t investigate if the survivor wanted to remain anonymous,” Madigan said.

“The Church views this as a problem of the past, but it continues to be a crisis in the present,” Madigan also said.

Since 2002, the Diocese said it’s always issued news releases when priests were removed from public ministry, and the releases have been posted on the Diocese website. The Diocese said 15 priests have been removed from the ministry over those 16 years.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

The following is a news release issued Wednesday by the Catholic Diocese of Peoria:

NEWS RELEASE
The Diocese of Peoria, Illinois
December 19, 2018
For Immediate Release:

Diocese of Peoria Responds to Report of Attorney General, Lisa Madigan
In August 2018, Attorney General Lisa Madigan approached the Diocese of Peoria
seeking cooperation regarding disclosure of sexual abuse of minors by priests of the
Diocese of Peoria. The Diocese of Peoria has fully cooperated with the Attorney
General’s requests throughout this process. Bishop Jenky took seriously the
Attorney General’s request that the Church needs to open their files for independent
review. Bishop Jenky immediately called for a review of all clergy personnel files
dating from the beginning of the Diocese in 1878. Bishop Jenky firmly believes that
a review of all files was the proper way to bring truth and transparency, which will
bring reconciliation for the past and hope for the future. Over 1,800 priest files
were reviewed and any possible allegation of sexually inappropriate behavior with a
minor in the broadest sense of the definition was isolated for further review by the
Attorney General’s office. This review is now complete in the Diocese of Peoria. Out
of an abundance of caution and transparency, Bishop Jenky has reported to the
appropriate State’s Attorneys all known allegations of sexual abuse of a minor from
the past regardless of how long ago that it occurred.

Since 2002, the Diocese of Peoria has removed fifteen priests from ministry. In
these cases the abuse occurred prior to 2002, and in most cases occurred many
decades ago.

The priests removed from ministry with credible allegations of sexual abuse of a
minor were reviewed by the Diocesan Review Commission, which has been in place since 2002 for the purpose of reviewing allegations of abuse by clergy. The Review Commission in effect during this time period has been comprised predominately of  lay people with professional backgrounds such as law enforcement, criminal and civil lawyers, education, child psychology, physicians, and past victims of abuse.The Diocese of Peoria has also been making significant steps to continue to improve the Safe Environment and Victim Assistance Offices to include personnel that hold credentials and professional licensed in counseling in order to help respond to the needs of victims of abuse. Retired law enforcement investigators have also been retained to assist if needed in any investigation. Any victim of clergy sexual abuse of a minor is encouraged to contact law enforcement. They can also contact theDiocese of Peoria Victim Assistance number at 309-677-7082.

Since 2002, the Diocese of Peoria has always issued a public press release when a
priest has been removed from public ministry. These press releases have always
been posted on the Diocesan website upon their release. Additionally, a list of
priests removed from ministry and their press releases can be accessed through the
Diocese of Peoria website at www.cdop.org under the Department of Safe
Environment.

Additionally, the Diocese of Peoria has fully implemented the elements of the
Charter for the Protection of Children. Since the Charter was implemented in 2002,
the Diocese of Peoria has trained and screened more than 12,000 adults to ensure
the children and young people entrusted to our care remain safe. Over 35,000
children and young people have also been educated on ways to stay safe and how to seek help when needed.

Bishop Jenky continues to express his sorrow that any child was a victim of
misconduct by a priest, deacon, teacher, employee, or volunteer serving the Catholic Church. He remains vigilant in his efforts to protect our youth.