Joliet diocesan archives show priestly abuse was covered up

March 20, 2013

Confidential records from the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, show that for years the diocese maintained files on priests who had been accused of sexual abuse, but kept information about the complaints from parishioners and police.

The files, which were made public as part of a settlement in a sex-abuse lawsuit, showed that retired Bishop Joseph Imesch was among the diocesan leaders who transferred accused priests to shield them from scrutiny.

Bishop Daniel Conlon, the current head of the Joliet diocese, is not implicated in the cover-up schemes exposed by the documents. Bishop Conlon released a statement acknowledging that the publication of the files would be "likely to open old wounds." He expressed his regrets for the damage done to victims of abuse.

 

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Further information:

• I-Team Exclusive: Secret archive contains records of alleged sexual abuse in Diocese of Joliet (WLS-TV)
• Statement of the Most Rev. R Daniel Conlon, Bishop of Joliet