Sex-abuse files impugn Chicago’s cardinals

Thousands of pages of chancery files were released on January 21 as part of a court settlement with the Chicago Catholic archdiocese, which for decades failed to protect children from priestly predators. The Chicago Tribune said new details revealed how the archdiocese “quietly shuttled accused priests from parish to parish and failed to notify police of child sexual abuse allegations.”

The documents account for 30 out of more than 65 priests with substantiated child abuse allegations against them. Of the 30, most were not prosecuted. Fourteen have died; all but two are no longer priests, and none is active in ministry.

Accused priests were shielded by church officials who thought the men could be cured through therapy or should be given second chances.