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	'Last Few Years Have Not Been the Best,' Imesch Says By Hal Dardick, Crystal Yednak and David Heinzmann Chicago Tribune [Joliet IL] May 17, 2006 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0605170228 may17,1,933559.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed As he formally announced his retirement, Joliet Bishop Joseph Imesch said Tuesday that the Catholic Church's priest sex-abuse scandal had nothing to do with the decision. That may be true--this summer he will be 75, the age at which the Vatican requires all bishops to submit their resignation. But the scandal has plagued the last few years of Imesch's 27-year tenure. While the Joliet diocese has been less a focus of attention than the much larger Chicago archdiocese, accusations have persisted that Imesch tried to protect and cover for priests since the scandal broke nationally in 2001 and 2002. Victims accused Imesch of transferring some priests to new parishes when accusations were leveled, blocking police investigations and intimidating victims and their families with church lawyers. Imesch and his attorneys have fought multiple court battles with news organizations in recent years as he tried to keep sex-abuse files under wraps. He lost most of the battles, and found himself defending his actions again this February when hundreds of pages of files--including a deposition he gave in a sex-abuse lawsuit last year--were made public. Blaming the media As he introduced his replacement, Little Rock Bishop J. Peter Sartain, Imesch said he felt his legacy had been tainted by bad press from the scandal. "The last few years have not been the best, as far as I'm concerned," Imesch said. "The way I was portrayed in the media ... I don't think was honest or accurate." Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Imesch's departure cannot undo the damaging effects of his leadership. "Imesch's tenure has a sordid history," Blaine said. "Instead of protecting children, Imesch shielded priest predators." SNAP members hope other diocese officials who might have information about Imesch's handling of cases will come forward, she said. The Joliet diocese serves seven counties: DuPage, Will, Kendall, Kankakee, Grundy, Ford and Iroquois. More than half of its Catholic population of about 650,000--compared with about 400,000 when Imesch was installed in 1979--lives in DuPage. Before the scandal erupted, Imesch was a popular bishop known for an open mind and a strong pastoral commitment to parish life. Many of the faithful in the diocese have been angered and deeply troubled by his handling of the abuse cases, but he has continued to enjoy strong support, especially among older Catholics. "He had a lot of problems, but we prayed for him, which is all we can do," said Eleanor Montgomery, a member of Lombard's Christ the King parish since 1967. The Lombard church was the center of one of the diocese's most troubling sex-abuse cases. After its pastor, Rev. Larry Gibbs, was accused in 1980 of molesting boys, Imesch quietly moved the priest to a parish in Lockport, where he was accused of molesting another boy. `Trying to save' priests "I think he waited too long" in taking action against priests who might have been abusing children, Montgomery said. "I think he was trying to save some of the priests." On Tuesday, Imesch said he did his best, conceding he might handle the sex-abuse claims differently now than he did decades ago, before he knew much about the issue. "I'm comfortable with what I tried to do, maybe not always the best, but like all of you, I do the best I can," he said. "I'm comfortable with meeting the Lord, whenever that comes, and giving an account of our stewardship." Mary Dunne, 49, of Elmhurst said it's a good time to make a change, especially if the church hopes to engage young people and reconnect with those angered by its handling of abuse cases. "Catholics are leaving because of the blind eye of some of the leadership," said Dunne, a member of Elmhurst's Immaculate Conception parish. "I don't think we should blame him, but he has some responsibility." In February, a DuPage County civil court judge made public a deposition given by Imesch in a suit accusing a priest of molesting a boy in Lombard in the 1960s. In the deposition, Imesch conceded he allowed at least four priests to continue in ministry after receiving credible allegations against them. A motion seeking a similar deposition release is pending in Will County. And that's just one of the priest abuse cases from the diocese winding their way through state courts. The Joliet diocese last month posted on its Web site a list of priests for whom child sex-abuse allegations had been substantiated--a step long sought by victims advocates and the goal of a lawsuit filed in March. "I think there's much more to my ministry as bishop than the last two years," Imesch said, citing the church's progress in developing its lay ministry, getting involved in social-justice issues and improving its school system. "I think that despite the abuse by some of our priests, we have an incredible group of priests who continue to carry on a ministry during very difficult times, and they give of themselves very generously, and I am very proud of all of them." Imesch, who was ordained in Rome 50 years ago, said he intends to remain a priest in the diocese by filling in where needed. "I may not be a great administrator, but I know I am a good pastor," he said. When asked how he felt when he learned the pope had accepted his resignation, which Imesch first had offered in November 2004, he quoted the country's most famous African-American Baptist minister. "Free at last," he said, to laughter. - - - PROFILE Bishop Imesch's career Bishop Joseph L. Imesch Age: 74 Born: June 21, 1931, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. Tenure as Joliet bishop: 1979-present Members under his leadership: About 650,000 Joliet Bishop Joseph Imesch's announcement that he will retires comes amid questions about his handling of sex-abuse allegations. He had opposed sharing information about accused priests with the public. EARLY YEARS Dec. 16, 1956: Ordained in Rome. 1957-1977: Served under or as bishop of several dioceses. Aug. 28, 1979: Installed as the third bishop of the Joliet diocese. Jan. 27, 1982: Imesch says a paralyzed man should be allowed to marry despite church law that bars couples who cannot procreate from marrying in the Catholic church. ABUSE SCANDALS AND LEGAL TROUBLES Jan. 6, 1993: A civil lawsuit filed in Will County claims Imesch did not thoroughly investigate sexual misconduct claims against a priest. April-May 2002: The Joliet diocese names and suspends 10 current or former priests for alleged sexual abuse. Aug. 2005: Imesch is interviewed as part of a lawsuit filed by a Glen Ellyn man who claims a priest molested him decades ago. 2005: Imesch says in a deposition that a Michigan priest in the 1970s confided that he molested an altar boy. Imesch did not tell authorities. Feb. 2, 2006: Two lawsuits claim Imesch failed to monitor or remove a Catholic priest suspected of sexually abusing two boys decades ago at west suburban churches. March 2006: In a deposition, Imesch lists 17 priests he believed had been credibly accused of sexual abuse. May 16, 2006: Imesch announces he will retire after 27 years as Joliet bishop. Source: Tribune research, Diocese of Joliet Chicago Tribune hdardick@tribune.com dheinzmann@tribune.com cyednak@tribune.com
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