Archdiocese Releases New Documents on Old Abuse Cases

Doings La Grange
November 6, 2014

http://lagrange.chicagotribune.com/2014/11/06/archdiocese-releases-new-documents-old-abuse-cases/

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2014 file photo, Cardinal Francis George, retiring leader of the Chicago Catholic Archdiocese speaks at a news conference in Chicago. The Archdiocese is expected to release files Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, about dozens of more abusive priests in what diocese officials say is a fulfillment of George's vow to make public the documents before he retires this month. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)

The Archdiocese of Chicago has released thousands of pages of internal documents pertaining to how it dealt with allegations of child sexual abuse by 36 priests going back decades.

The archdiocese posted the documents on its website Thursday, Nov. 6. Based on a comparison, these additional files pertain to priests already named in the January release. No new priests were named in Thursday’s documents.

They’re in addition to records related to other abusive priests that it released as part of a legal settlement in January, when the archdiocese revealed it had concealed the abuse for decades.

Together with documents released in January, the new files represent the archdiocese’s fullest public accounting of 68 priests, who church officials found abused 352 children since 1950, according to the Chicago Tribune. Of those 68, two had no documents released; Rev. Daniel J. McCormack and Rev. Edward J. Maloney, are not included, “due to ongoing processes that do not permit release,” according to the Archdiocese.

Some priests named in the documents served in Pioneer Press communities, though allegations of abuse did not necessarily take place here. They are listed below with links to the archdiocese’s reports.

Richard B. Bartz: Ascension, Oak Park

David F. Braun (deceased): St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette

Eugene P. Burns (deceased): St. Catherine Laboure, Glenview

William Cloutier: St. Damien, Oak Forest; St. Peter, Skokie

John Curran (deceased): St. Catherine of Sienna, Oak Park

Walter G. DeRoeck: St. Paul of the Cross, Park Ridge, St. Catherine Laboure, Glenview; St. Celestine Catholic, Elmwood Park

Joseph L. Fitzharris: St. Francis Xavier; St. Aloysius, La Grange; LaGrange Park

James V. Flosi: St. Luke, River Forest, St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates, St. Gertrude, Franklin Park, St. Giles, Oak Park.

Robert D. Friese: St. Cyprian Catholic, River Grove

John E. Hefferan: St. Louise de Marilac, La Grange, St. John Baptist Vianney, Northlake, St. John the Evangelist, Streamwood

Thomas Job: St. Cletus, La Grange; St. John Vianny, Northlake

Robert L. Kealy: St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka

Thomas Kelly (deceased): St. John Vianney, Northlake

Robert E. Mayer: St. Catherine of Siena, Oak Park

Donald J. Mulsoff (deceased): St. Celestine, Elmwood Park

Emmanuel Pallikuunen (deceased): St. Mary, Buffalo Grove

John A. Robinson: St. Damian, Oak Forest; Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village

Kenneth Ruge (deceased): St. Rosalie’s, Harwood Heights, Divine Infant Jesus, Westchester; Divine Savior in Norridge

Raymond Skriba (deceased): St. Gertrude, Franklin Park

Marion J. Sneig: St. Rosalie, Harwood Heights

Joseph S. Thomas (deceased): St. John Vianney, Northlake