Madigan Says Another 500 Allegations Regarding Clergy Sexual Abuse

The dioceses have publicly identified 185 clergy members as having been "credibly" accused of child sexual abuse. 

The cases stretch back for decades and many of those alleged are deceased or have resigned from church leadership.

At the outset of Madigan's investigation, only two of the Catholic dioceses in Illinois had published a list of clergy whom the diocese had determined were "credibly" (the church's word) accused of sexually abusing minors. The other four dioceses have since published similar lists.

Madigan began her investigation in August following the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report describing the scope of clergy child sexual abuse in that state.

The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has assembled information from files dating back to 1923, when the diocese was established in Springfield. A statement was released Wednesday by the Diocese that they have "provided the Attorney General's office with documentation of all allegations of such abuse, whether or not those allegations were deemed credible."

The Diocese also reported that beginning in 2002, they implemented a zero tolerance policy and began promoting "an environment of awareness and safety." The Diocese has seen two priests and a former bishop removed since 2002 for substantiated allegations arising prior to 2002 and removed one priest since 2002 for an allegation found to have occurred after 2002.

The Diocese is encouraging anyone with concerns about abuse of a minor by clergy to contact The Diocese's Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation number at 217-321-1155. Individuals may also contact the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE.