JOLIET (IL)
Chicago Tribune
By Manya A. Brachear
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 1, 2006
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet promised on Friday that in the next two weeks it would post on its Web site the names of priests facing credible allegations of sexual misconduct with minors, echoing a similar move by the Chicago archdiocese.
"We have taken this step in the hope of further facilitating healing and closure for those who have been affected by the tragedy of sexual abuse of a minor," Bishop Joseph Imesch said in a statement released Friday.
But victims' advocates, who have sought a list of names for years, said the church is acting because it wants to quell protests and soften the blow of lawsuits demanding names of the accused and records of the allegations against them.
"The lists have almost always been very limited, and bishops have split hairs to minimize the numbers," said Barbara Dorris, a spokeswoman for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "Any step toward openness, however partial or belated or begrudging, is welcome. We hope this will prompt other victims of pedophile priests to come forward and get help."