Sexual abuse by Catholic clerics in Illinois (Attorney General's report 2023)

From 2018 the Attorney General of Illinois investigated all six Catholic dioceses of the state. Before the investigation they had publicly named 103 perpetrators; in the end there were 451 clerics and religious brothers who had abused at least 1,997 children. 160 of them had been confirmed as perpetrators by the Church itself but never publicly named. For decades the dioceses transferred perpetrators to other parishes, even after confessions. Because the acts are mostly time-barred, many victims will never see justice in court.

Period

1950-2019 (69 years)

Report published

23 May 2023

Country

United States

Institutions

Archdiocese of Chicago
Diocese of Belleville
Diocese of Joliet
Diocese of Peoria
Diocese of Rockford
Diocese of Springfield

Category

Sexual abuse, Cover-up

Level of evidence

A Primary source · what does this mean?

Persons

Robert Mayer (priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago)
Joseph Bernardin (Cardinal, Archbishop of Chicago)

Background

Course of events

1. The report's data analysis covers the years 1950 to 2019.
   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Data Analysis

   „The total number of Catholic priests and brothers associated with each Illinois diocese in each year from 1950 to 2019“

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

1. Bishop John Myers (Peoria) was asked under oath why he had not passed on information about accused priests. He replied that there had been great consideration for the victims, but also for the reputation of the priests: if a priest lost his reputation, he was finished. About the Diocese of Springfield the report writes that for 50 years its leadership protected the reputation of the Church and its clerics instead of caring for the physical and emotional well-being of the children.
   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Diözese Peoria, S. 416

   „I think that there was a great sensitivity to caring for victims but also to the reputation of priests. If a priest loses his reputation, he’s done.“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Diözese Springfield, S. 524

   „men leading the Diocese of Springfield for 50 years chose to protect the reputation of the church and its clerics, rather than attempt to ensure the physical and mental well-being of its children“

Who received the assets, who profited?

1. In court, dioceses were ordered to pay large damages: a jury awarded a victim in the Diocese of Belleville 5 million dollars; the trial showed that several bishops had enabled the abuse by a priest for decades. In 2005 a jury awarded 1.9 million dollars to the nephew of a priest who had been abused for almost ten years from the age of five.
   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Diocese of Belleville, S. 281

   „a lawsuit that ended with a jury awarding him $5 million in damages“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Diocese of Belleville, S. 281

   „all the while enabled by multiple Bishops of the Diocese of Belleville“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), S. 359

   „in 2005, a jury awarded him $1.9 million in damages for abuse that began in the 1950s, when the boy was just 5 years old and living in Chicago, and continued for almost a decade“

Response of the Church

1. According to the Attorney General, decisions by church leaders allowed known perpetrators to hide for decades. Three dioceses did not investigate allegations against deceased, departed or laicised priests at all; this denied justice to hundreds of victims.
   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Message from the Attorney General, PDF-S. 4

   „Decades of Catholic leadership decisions and policies have allowed known child sex abusers to hide, often in plain sight.“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Concerns Relating to the Illinois Dioceses’ Investigations, PDF-S. 590

   „hundreds of survivors were denied justice because the church was not investigating—and therefore not able to substantiate— certain child sex abuse claims.“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Concerns Relating to the Illinois Dioceses’ Investigations, PDF-S. 593

   „Previously, these three dioceses did not – either in practice or by the terms of their policies – investigate allegations against this group of clerics.“

2. In the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1970 a church official recommended that a priest who had confessed merely be moved to another parish; he then allegedly abused at least three more children and remained in ministry until 2003. Another priest was quietly transferred to another parish in 1975 after his arrest. A priest internally described as a "pedophile" in 1989 was likewise merely transferred.
   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Archdiocese of Chicago, History of Handling Claims, PDF-S. 54

   „a church official simply recommended that Skriba be moved from his parish. This occurred despite Skriba’s admitting to the abuse. Skriba went on to allegedly abuse or act inappropriately toward at least three more children. He remained in ministry until January 2003.“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Archdiocese of Chicago, History of Handling Claims, PDF-S. 54

   „The archdiocese quietly transferred Job to another parish in 1975 after he was arrested for allegedly abusing a boy.“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Archdiocese of Chicago, History of Handling Claims, PDF-S. 54

   „the vicar for priests acknowledged to Cardinal Bernardin that McCaffrey was a “pedophile.” However, the vicar recommended that McCaffrey be moved to another parish“

3. In May 2005 Cardinal Francis George declared that the Archdiocese of Chicago did not in any way consider itself responsible for the acts of a priest against whom it had itself found eleven allegations of abuse substantiated; it was not liable for scandal or spiritual harm he had caused.
   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Archdiocese of Chicago, S. 82

   „the Archdiocese does not consider itself in any way responsible for the activities of“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Archdiocese of Chicago, S. 82

   „is not to be held liable for any scandal or harm to souls for which he has been or is responsible“

   Evidence: Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul), Archdiocese of Chicago, S. 82

   „the archdiocese had substantiated 11 allegations of sexual abuse“

See also

• 1940-2002 · 62 years

  Sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston (Attorney General's report 2003)

  • United States
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up
• 1950-2019 · 69 years

  Sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Colorado (Special Master's report 2019)

  • United States
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up
• 1950-2022 · 72 years

  Sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Kansas (Kansas Bureau of Investigation report 2023)

  • United States
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up
• 1962-2010 · 48 years

  Sexual abuse in six dioceses of Pennsylvania (grand jury report 2018)

  • United States
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up

Original documents to read

1. Government report
   Office of the Illinois Attorney General (Kwame Raoul): Report on Catholic Clergy Child Sex Abuse in Illinois, 23 May 2023. Original (retrieved 12 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 22 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.