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	Jesuits Knew of Priest Abuse, Motion Claims Tribune Reporter March 29, 2011 http://www.wgntv.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-jesuits-knew-of-priest-abuse-motion-claims-20110329,0,445496.story?track=rss [The Jesuits and Donald McGuire SJ: A Management History] For decades, Jesuit leaders in Chicago knew that now-defrocked Catholic priest Donald McGuire was sexually abusing underage boys and, instead of acting to prevent it, sought to cover it up and mislead police, according to a motion for punitive damages filed this week. The document, which was filed Monday in Cook Circuit Court on behalf of three men whom McGuire allegedly abused, includes excerpts of letters written between Jesuit leaders. In one 1969 letter, Fr. Charles Schlax writes to Fr. John Reinke, a former president of Loyola Academy in Wilmette and ranking Superior of Loyola Academy's Jesuit community, about his concerns upon learning from a student that he and McGuire had been staying overnight at the school. "I do believe that the seriousness of the possible bad situation is quite evident and needs to be cleared up … lest others suffer," he wrote. Although Loyola Academy almost immediately terminated McGuire's teaching duties, it sought to cover up the reasons, according to the motion. In a 1970 letter to the Provincial's office, Reinke wrote, "I am anxious, as far as it can be accomplished, to have his departure seem perfectly normal… That's why I have kept it in terms of a sabbatical …" The motion alleges that the Jesuit community's actions allowed McGuire to continue his sexual abuse of boys for dozens of years before he was sentenced in February 2009 to 25 years in prison. "The evidence establishes beyond any doubt that the Jesuits had multiple opportunities to stop McGuire, but instead turned a blind eye to his criminal actions," the motion states. Contact: cdizikes@tribune.com
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