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	Rose Named to Archdiocesan Committee By Julie Murphy Mundelein Review [Illinois] March 30, 2006 http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/mu/03-30-06-876010.html Mundelein Police Chief Ray Rose is one of several members serving on an Ad Hoc committee created by the Archdiocese of Chicago that will review the "retrospective 'lessons learned' audit" conducted by Defenbaugh and Associates. The independent audit examined the Archdiocese's handling of the allegations of sexual abuse with a minor against Father Daniel McCormack and Father Joseph Bennett. Archdiocese spokesman Jim Dwyer said the committee will advise the Archdiocese on the implementation of the recommendations. "We assembled a good group to perform an independent review," he said. "We want to maintain the momentum of the report." Dwyer said the group assembled, which includes children's welfare advocates, a circuit court judge, an attorney who represents victims of sexual abuse, the vice chair of Catholic Charities, a financial analyst and a news and information officer for Notre Dame, was chosen for its diversity and commitment to see that Archdiocese policies are properly implemented. "It's not just a matter of saying we made mistakes," said Dwyer. "The safety of children is at stake, number one. These are people who it is in their best interest to see that we do what we say we will to rectify this." Dwyer said the Archdiocese has had policies and procedures in place since 1992, but they need to be properly implemented. It is the committee's charge to see this happens. "This is a huge project," Rose said. "I see this as history making." Rose said he could see the work of the committee being implemented across the country. "It makes sense to me that this project should be able to be replicated in other areas," he said. With the Defenbaugh and Associates audit came local concern over the priests currently living at St. Mary of the Lake. Rose said news stories about outside auditors' critiques of the Archdiocese procedures for monitoring priests had nothing to do with those living in Mundelein. He said the key difference between McCormack and Bennett is that criminal charges were never filed against any of those living in Mundelein - most of whom are now elderly. In October 2005, the names of the priests accused of sexual misconduct, though not charged, and living at St. Mary had been provided to the Mundelein Police Department by the Archdiocese. While Rose said his department should have information of the individuals in the event something were to happen, he said it is a delicate balance between protecting the community and protecting the rights of men who have not stood trial, let alone been convicted, for any violations of civil or criminal law. "By law, sex offenders can't be within 500 feet of a school," said Rose. "We're not warehousing these guys here (those who have been convicted). No criminal charges have ever been filed, and we would rather have some monitoring and control than none." Rose said there would be nothing to prevent the 11 priests living in the retreat house on the 800-acre campus from moving off the property and mixing in with the general public. "We would rather have them in a confined situation," said Rose. "St. Mary has its own security, and unlike a residential situation, children aren't just wandering through." The full Defenbaugh and Associates report is available on the Archdiocese Web site: www.archchicago.org. Julie Murphy can be reached at jmurphy@pioneerlocal.com.
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