MUNDELEIN (IL)
NBC 5
POSTED: 6:43 pm CDT September 28, 2005
UPDATED: 11:39 pm CDT September 28, 2005
MUNDELEIN, Ill. -- Some residents of north suburban Mundelein expressed concern about some Roman Catholic priests who have been permanently removed from public ministry.
NBC5's Mary Ann Ahern reported that while the church ruled the allegations of sex abuse against the priests are credible, they do not have to register as sex offenders since they never faced any criminal charges. In most cases, the allegations are more than 10 years old. The church refuses to kick the priests out, but they are monitored by the church.
Archdiocesan officials decline to say how many priests removed from ministry live at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House, located at St. Mary On The Lake Seminary -- and what their restriction are.
While Mundelein police have contacted the archdiocese, the police said legally, the church doesn't have to tell them anything because there were no criminal charges.
Housing the priests at the retreat house was initially considered a temporary situation while the church investigated the allegations. This week, Cardinal Francis George has permanently removed 11 priests, some who will remain at Mundelein.
Posted by kshaw at September 29, 2005 09:04 AM