Listening Session on Clerical Sexual Abuse

Thank you for everyone who came out to the Listening Session on Clerical Sexual Abuse on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

The honesty and concern of every person in attendance was most welcome. We are grateful for your compassionate concern for the victims and your rightful anger at those who permitted abusers to commit abuse in the arena of the Church.

We are sharing your thoughts and comments with Bishop Bartosic and Cardinal Cupich. We reiterate our policies of background checks for priests, staff, and volunteers of the Church as well as training to identify and prevent abuse before it happens.

Anyone with knowledge about abuse that has taken place by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Chicago should report that abuse to the police and the Illinois State’s Attorney followed by alerting the Archdiocese Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review.

DCFS Hotline: 1-800-25-ABUSE

Illinois State’s Attorney: https://www.cookcountystatesattorney.org/, (312) 603-1880

Archdiocese Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review: https://protect.archchicago.org/offices-and-services/office-for-child-abuse-investigations-review, 312-534-5205 / 1-800-994-6200 or, to report historical abuse, contact the Office for Protection of Children and Youth at 312-534-5254.

The notes from our meeting are posted below.