April 02, 2006

Church to post names of accused clergymen

JOLIET (IL)
The Beacon News

By Ted Slowik
staff writer

JOLIET — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet says it will release the names of some priests accused of sexually abusing minors.

The diocese will post on its Web site the names of "diocesan priests against whom a credible allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor has been made," Joliet Bishop Joseph Imesch wrote in a letter to be distributed in parish bulletins this weekend.

A class-action lawsuit filed against the diocese last month seeks to force the diocese to disclose the names of priests accused of sexually abusing minors. The bishop's letter indicates the diocese's list will not include the names of religious order priests who served in the diocese, or diocesan priests who were the subjects of claims that were deemed unfounded.

The letter does not indicate when the names will be posted on the Web site, www.dioceseofjoliet.org .

Posted by kshaw at April 2, 2006 09:29 AM