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	Church to Post Names of Accused Clergymen By Ted Slowik The Beacon News April 2, 2006 http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/ city/2_1_AU02_DIOCESE_S1.htm JOLIET — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet says it will release the names of some priests accused of sexually abusing minors. The diocese will post on its Web site the names of "diocesan priests against whom a credible allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor has been made," Joliet Bishop Joseph Imesch wrote in a letter to be distributed in parish bulletins this weekend. A class-action lawsuit filed against the diocese last month seeks to force the diocese to disclose the names of priests accused of sexually abusing minors. The bishop's letter indicates the diocese's list will not include the names of religious order priests who served in the diocese, or diocesan priests who were the subjects of claims that were deemed unfounded. The letter does not indicate when the names will be posted on the Web site, www.dioceseofjoliet.org . Also in the letter, Imesch says the diocese spent nearly $130,000 on sex-abuse related issues last year, including $80,000 in legal fees and $30,000 to settle a claim. The $30,000 settlement was covered by an insurance carrier, the diocese said. An audit determined that the diocese is compliant with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' policies for protecting young people from sexual predators, the letter says. In the letter, Imesch addresses recent sex-abuse related events within the diocese, including the release of a deposition in which the bishop testified under oath that he assigned some priests to parishes after they had received counseling because of reported sexual activity with youngsters. "I know that some of my words in that deposition have caused pain to many in the diocese and have hurt our church. For all of the hurt I have caused by my words and decisions, by what I have done or ought to have done, I am truly sorry. I ask your forgiveness and prayers," Imesch wrote.
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