Chicago bishop admitted concealing sex-abuse evidence in dozens of cases

July 22, 2009

Bishop Raymond Goedert, a retired auxiliary bishop of Chicago, admitted in a court deposition that he concealed evidence of sexual abuse by more than a score of priests. The bishop's deposition-- released as part of a settlement with a group of abuse victims, to whom the archdiocese also agreed to pay $3.9 million in damages-- indicated that he was well aware of laws against molesting children, but thought Church law took precedence and required confidentiality. He said that he did not disclose the abuse allegations "to anyone except those who had a right to know because of their position in the diocese."

 

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Further information:

• Failure to report sex abuse in Chicago archdiocese described (Chicago Tribune)
• Bishop remained silent about 25 abusive priests (Chicago Sun-Times)