CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Sun-Times
February 19, 2006
BY ERIC HERMAN AND LISA DONOVAN Staff Reporters
Despite a recent pledge to report allegations of past abuse by priests, the Archdiocese of Chicago is refusing to hand over files on some cases sought by Illinois' Department of Children and Family Services.
The wrangle comes as the archdiocese is touting its new policies regarding abuse cases. Church officials have promised to report allegations to DCFS, even when the purported victim is now an adult.
But that policy will only apply to new complaints. When DCFS director Bryan Samuels last week sought information on adults' charges already in the archdiocese's possession, Cardinal Francis George refused to share it.
"The Department has learned that the archdiocese maintains a list of files and letters regarding past allegations of child abuse by clergy. . . . The archdiocese has not reported those allegations of child abuse to DCFS," Samuels wrote to George on Wednesday -- the day the archdiocese announced its new policies.