Mother: Release of Chicago Archdiocese Documents Detailing Sex Abuse Will Help Her Son Heal

The Republic
January 21, 2014

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/d45ac3f27d4546d2a7bae7e5ba5ecd0e/IL--Church-Abuse-Mother

A mother who says her son was abused by a suburban Chicago Catholic priest says the release of documents detailing abuse claims will help old wounds heal.

Kathy Laarveld (LAR'-veld) said at a Tuesday news conference that it's been a struggle for years. She says her son has to open an "extremely painful scar" but it's going to heal more quickly with the information going public.

Victim attorney Marc Pearlman says the documents show a systematic coverage of abuse.

Attorneys posted documents online Tuesday, about a week after receiving them from the archdiocese as part of legal settlements. The documents are for 30 of 65 priests for whom the archdiocese says it has credible allegations.

Cardinal Francis George says the disclosures are an attempt at transparency. He's apologized to victims.