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	Archdiocese Removes 11 Priests from Parishes in Chicago Area By Megan Reichgott Associated Press, carried in Belleville News-Democrat [Chicago IL] September 26, 2005 CHICAGO - Eleven priests suspected of sexual misconduct with minors have been permanently removed from public ministries, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago said Monday. The men are banned from presenting themselves as priests, engaging in a public ministry or acting as an agent of the archdiocese, although they have not been removed from the priesthood, said Chancellor Jimmy Lago, who declined to disclose specific allegations or the priests' names or parishes. The 11 men were among a group of 14 priests whose alleged sexual misconduct was forwarded to Vatican officials two years ago by Cardinal Francis George, archdiocese officials said. One of the priests has died and two other cases will be decided by pending canonical trials. The Vatican studied the cases last year and authorized George to conduct a review that included opinions from advocates for the priests and advisers, Lago said. "Cardinal George has determined, based on the information presented, that sexual misconduct did occur," he said. The sexual abuse, which allegedly took place 20 to 30 years ago in all of the cases, was reported both to the parishes and civil authorities when the priests were withdrawn, Lago said. The priests also live in restricted settings where their visitors and actions are monitored. The statue of limitations has expired in all the cases, spokesmen for the Cook and Lake County state's attorneys' offices said. Victim advocates said George's actions were belated and the church should have made the priests' names public. "I think that this begrudging, long overdue action, while it might bring some relief to the victims who have been abused and wounded in the Archdiocese of Chicago, I believe it does not relieve Cardinal George of his responsibility," said Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. "There's 11 known child molesters out there that are not going to be found on any sex offender registries." Blaine also said the archdiocese needed to visit each church where the priests worked and urge victims to contact authorities. George's actions follow "zero-tolerance" reforms adopted three years ago by U.S. Roman Catholic bishops at the height of the clergy sex abuse crisis. In June, the bishops extended their policy of permanently barring sex offenders from church work. The crisis erupted in January 2002 over revelations that many bishops had moved guilty priests among parishes without warning parents or police. The archdiocese paid out $18.2 million to settle legal claims by people alleging sexual abuse by priests in the last fiscal year. Since 2002, 19 of its priests have been removed from ministry, Lago said.
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