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* Attorney General Lisa Madigan press release…
“The Catholic Church has a moral obligation to provide its parishioners and the public a complete and accurate accounting of all sexually inappropriate behavior involving priests in Illinois.
“We have reviewed the Pennsylvania grand jury report, which identifies at least seven priests with connections to Illinois. The Chicago Archdiocese has agreed to meet with me. I plan to reach out to the other dioceses in Illinois to have the same conversation and expect the bishops will agree and cooperate fully. If not, I will work with states attorneys and law enforcement throughout Illinois to investigate.”
* NBC 5…
“We have been contacted by the Illinois attorney general and look forward to discussing our policies and procedures related to misconduct issues with her and her office,” the Chicago Archdiocese said in a statement. “We have worked cooperatively with the Cook County and Lake County state’s attorneys for many years.”
* Sun-Times…
Among the Chicago-area priests named in the new report is the Rev. Raymond Lukac, a known “problem priest” accused of abusing an 11-year-old girl in the rectory of St. Stanislaus parish in Posen in the early 1960s.
The Rev. Gregory Furjanic is also named for unspecified accusations predating his 2003 arrival to Chicago to serve the Croatian Franciscan Friars, and the Rev. Jerry Kucan for a series of abuses in Pennsylvania before he was placed in Chicago’s St. Jerome parish in 1982. Kucan also was assigned to St. Anthony in 1986, Sacred Heart in 1994 and St. Anthony’s Friary in 1995.
The Rev. Robert Spangenberg was accused in the report of abusing boys in Pennsylvania after serving in the 1980s as chaplain at Chicago’s St. Francis de Sale High School.
Those four priests are all dead. It wasn’t immediately clear which other priests in the report were being scrutinized by Madigan’s office.
* OK, back to this statement by AG Madigan…
If [they don’t cooperate fully], I will work with states attorneys and law enforcement throughout Illinois to investigate.
* The Questions: 1) Is this an appropriate undertaking by the attorney general? 2) Should this be used as a template by future attorneys general for investigating corruption and other statewide illegalities? Take the poll, answer both questions and then explain your answers in comments, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 10:56 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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I’m confused. Wasn’t Lisa insisting just the other day that she didn’t have the authority to initiate investigations like this?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:01 am
Voted yes and yes, it assumes a few things. The AG should be leading the charge for this. Also, don’t miss anything.
Comment by Rutro Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:04 am
How is it that L Madigan can go after everything BUT Illinois political corruption? Oh, we ll know the answer but the question still must be asked. Repeatedly.
The office of the AG should absolutely investigate/prosecute these slimeballs but Illinois is known world-wide for its public corruption.
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:04 am
More than overdue.
The future ? Why not?
he AG might want to see if there any IL connections to Urban Meyers too.
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:04 am
This is the kind of multi-jurisdictional behavior that calls out for a multi-jurisdictional coordinated investigation. County boundaries should not pose barriers to investigation. BUT, the AG is NOT the super prosecutor under the Illinois Constitution and for good reason, the potential for misuse of power for political reasons and conflicting prosecutions is to be avoided. Investigate statewide, yes; prosecute locally, perhaps with an assist from the AG, yes. That addresses the problem and maintains a proper balance/seperation of powers.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:06 am
This has been a persistent problem throughout our lives, and presumably throughout history. Private citizens have organized to attempt to address the issue, but we as the public have done very little. I am supportive of trying to do something. It should be a moral obligation of the church and it is certainly in the public’s best interest.
I don’t know the answer to #2.
Comment by Lil Squeezy Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:09 am
Yes, and Yes. The Illinois AG cannot empanel a grand jury, except if i remember, in some mulit-county drug cases? Even if they find something from these talks, they do not have the ability to prosecute criminal activity, that is left to the county prosecutors. This is why they end up doing consumer protection.
Rich, am I wrong about this?
Comment by 100 miles west Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:09 am
Flat Bed Ford -
AG Madigan’s people were investigating Blago on several fronts, and pulled back at the request of the then US Attorney for Northern Illinois. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? One Patrick Fitzgerald. Please try to keep up.
Comment by Smitty Irving Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:10 am
Voted yes. No. It’s good to let the public know, but let each AG BE THEIR OWN person.
I understand that Lisa will be going the Trump defense team in January.
Comment by BlueDogDem Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:12 am
The Catholic Church’s coverup of Priest abuse for all the years during the 20th Century sickens me. It has shaken my faith as a catholic to the core. I welcome the AG’s involvement. The more heat put on the Catholic Church’s hierarchy the better. Many of these priest predators are dead but any remaining “Abusive Priests” need to be flushed out and prosecuted.
Comment by "Old Timer Dem" Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:14 am
Stick to the questions please.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:15 am
Yes and yes. Want forgiveness, Catholic church? What did you know and when did you know it? What actions did you take to hide the problems, obstruct justice, or smear the accusers? Ask all the way up to the Pope. Open the Vatican records, not just the diocese.
Comment by Jibba Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:17 am
Sorry, Rich, messages crossed.
Comment by Jibba Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:18 am
I would love for her to make Bishop Paprocki squirm.
Comment by Nick Name Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:18 am
I voted yes and yes. The Catholic Church has already proven itself unwilling or unable to dole out justice. I like this proactive approach.
Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:21 am
I voted “yes” to both. The AG should assure statewide (including worldwide) corporations/organizations address systemic issues having a serious negative impact on residents of Illinois and prosecute where warranted.
Comment by Earnest Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:22 am
Voted Yes and No. Yes, because the church does not have a good record in this area. No, because that seems too broad of an authority.
Some members of the church have clearly broken the law and the church has helped conceal these crimes.
But the word “corruption” has been thrown around a lot without any serious accusations of law breaking.
Comment by A Jack Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:23 am
Yes and No. Good to require/request more transparency. Not clear this is a template for anything.
One minor issue — a public official has no business telling anyone their “”moral obligation.” “Public obligation” yes.
Comment by walker Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:23 am
1) Is this an appropriate undertaking by the attorney general?
Yes, unless you think the Catholic Church is above the law.
It’s kind of a weird question…?
Comment by forgotten child Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:23 am
Yes and No. The Catholic Church had ample time to clean house and didn’t get it done. Could you imagine the repercussions of this happening at Wells Fargo, Apple, or the World Health Organization?
Comment by Jocko Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:28 am
Voted yes and no but really wanted to vote yes and “depends.” It’s hard to give an absolute answer to question #2 because it really comes down to the specific issues/parties at hand and whether or not an other agency (like the U.S. Attorney) might or should have jurisdiction.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:34 am
Yes. No.
This has been shown to be a horrible and widespread and long term problem but hopefully a very unique situation (therefore no template). This issue does still require investigation and closure. Some people may think, “oh well, it was a big problem in the past but most of the predator priests are dead or very old by now.” But is that true? Both the public and the Church itself should welcome the opportunity to bring the investigation and findings up to date via a specific targeted statewide effort.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:41 am
While she is at it she should make a stop at Chicago Public Schools, seems like they have a bad problem too.
Also, failure of a mandatory reporter to report should be a crime and any cover up should be a major conspiracy felony wiith stature not starting to run until the discovery of the conspiracy.
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 11:55 am
Yes and Yes. The Catholic Church should be treated like any other large organization whose operatives break laws in Illinois. A case could be made that it should be scrutinized more closely than a commercial organization because of the favoritism lavished on it and all other orgnaizations in the faith arena.
Comment by Cook County Commoner Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 12:13 pm
Investigate methodist, baptist, lutherans, church of christ, etc.
Comment by Huh? Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 12:28 pm
Protecting kids is job of all officials, especially the AG either directly, or helping local law enforcement.
By template for future AG’s do we mean ignore a known problem for 16 years because the group involved is in my base and act like I care as I walk out the door, no.
Comment by the Patriot Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 12:40 pm
Voted no and no. I don’t think this is the AG’s job and I don’t think any office holder should rewrite the constitution unilaterally for any reason.
To the particular question. I believe that Catholics will have to require that every member of their faith be subject to civil law and that every crime and cover up be subject to civil investigation.
Comment by Matt Vernau Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 12:54 pm
Voted no - no.
I rant on this blog about the AG’s Office in Illinois being almost exclusively a civil law actor, not criminal. Don’t know how any Illinois AG can conduct a PA style grand jury investigation when state law strictly limits the AG’s ability to convene a grand jury.
Comment by Roman Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Yes and yes. Such misconduct in the Chicago and Joliet dioceses (at least) has been alleged and proven for many years. What was magical about the Pennsylvania report that suddenly awakened the AG?
Comment by perry noya Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 1:17 pm
No and no.
The AG is not funded for this type of activity and should not divert resources to such investigations unless authorized by law. That goes for the current officeholder and future Attorneys General. That being said, the statement “If [they don’t cooperate fully], I will work with states attorneys and law enforcement throughout Illinois to investigate.” works. The AG is authorized to assist State’s Attorneys.
Comment by Bigtwich Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 2:05 pm
I got reaction from the two attorney general candidates this week on this topic.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-grand-jury-abuse-report-st-0822-story.html
Comment by Ted Slowik Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 2:26 pm
Hell yes. and any template is good to hand to the next one because I don’t think either of them are anywhere close to the quality of Lisa Madigan.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 2:45 pm
Based on the Chicago Tribune expose on the sexual abuse of students in the Chicago Public School system, I hope AG Madigan will investigate school districts across the state as well.
Comment by Ian Howell Friday, Aug 24, 18 @ 3:04 pm