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Stunning New Documents on Convicted Predator Priest to be Released PR Newswire October 28, 2007 http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-28-2007/0004691744&EDATE= Ten different church officials in 3 Catholic institutions were warned about McGuire but kept quiet Jesuits continue to deny knowledge of McGuire's sexual abuse of children despite written proof dating back to the 1960s Jesuits told criminal prosecutors that no documents exist which relate to sexual abuse of children by McGuire CHICAGO, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ --What At a news conference, attorneys for clergy sex abuse victims will disclose and discuss roughly 30 pages of previously secret Jesuit documents relating to a prominent pedophile priest, Rev. Donald McGuire, S.J. The documents are being made public today for the first time. They show that as many as ten high-ranking church officials were repeatedly warned about McGuire as early as 1969. Despite the knowledge of the Jesuits and other church leaders, no one reported McGuire's crimes to law enforcement, warned unsuspecting parishioners, or investigated, restricted or disciplined McGuire. As a result, he was free to travel the world molesting boys for 5 decades until his arrest and conviction in 2006. The letters confirm that over the last 5 decades several families repeatedly complained to the Jesuits about sexually inappropriate conduct by McGuire with their sons, and that the Jesuits had actual knowledge as early as 1969 that McGuire was a sexual predator and child molester. Despite the Jesuits' knowledge, they did nothing to protect children and allowed McGuire to remain in ministry traveling the world and putting countless kids at risk. Previously secret Jesuit records reveal that the Jesuits misled the public and law enforcement about what they knew about McGuire, including the Wisconsin District Attorney who obtained a criminal conviction against McGuire in 2006. When Monday, Oct. 29, 2007, 1:00 p.m. Where The law offices of Marc Pearlman, 70 West Madison, Suite 5350 Chicago, IL 60602 (Clark and Madison streets) Who Three attorneys who represent several victims of McGuire and hundreds of clergy sex abuse victims across the country. Why Twice in the last two months, civil lawsuits have been filed in Chicago against the Jesuits detailing recent child sex abuse by McGuire, a high profile, criminally convicted priest who still walks free in the Chicago area today. As part of the litigation process, the victims' attorneys are required to disclose documents to the Jesuits which relate to the claims. These documents reveal that the Jesuits' previous public statements regarding their knowledge of McGuire's problems and crimes are untrue and misleading, including the Jesuits' position that they had no relevant information regarding McGuire to turn over during a criminal investigation and trial which resulted in a conviction against McGuire in 2006. Given the Jesuits' untrue public statements and continued cover-up of sexual crimes against children, the plaintiffs' attorneys are making these documents public to set the record straight about what they knew and when. The documents reveal that the Jesuits removed McGuire from his teaching position at Loyola Academy in 1970 because of his sexual abuse of a student. Concerned parents again notified the Jesuits about McGuire's inappropriate conduct with their sons in 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. In 2000, 2001 and 2003, a boy's worried parents repeatedly called and wrote Jesuit officials about their suspicions and concerns about McGuire. Their reports were ignored. A top Jesuit finally responded, telling the parents to "trust us" but giving no reassurance or evidence that Jesuits would investigate or restrict McGuire in any way. During that time, McGuire lived with and repeatedly molested plaintiff John Doe 116. Frustrated, the parents also wrote to a representative of Cardinal George in the Chicago Archdiocese and their own bishop in Savannah, Georgia, seeking help. Despite their efforts, McGuire remained in ministry, unrestricted, until late 2003 when two other victims filed lawsuits and publicly exposed McGuire. The letters describe a wide range of hurtful and inappropriate misconduct by McGuire, including showing pornography to kids, sharing a bed with boys, nudity, sexual teasing, and suspected sexual abuse of boys. |
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