36 more priests named in new Chicago Archdiocese abuse files

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The Chicago Archdiocese released the files on 36 more priests accused of sexually abusing children Thursday morning, adding to a list of 30 other priests identified in January.

Cardinal Francis George said the voluntary release of the internal files, coming just two weeks before his retirement, is part of an effort to rebuild trust with the community.

"We cannot change the past but we hope we can rebuild trust through honest and open dialogue," George said. "Child abuse is a crime and a sin. The Archdiocese of Chicago is concerned first and foremost with bringing healing to abuse victims."

Similar to the documents released in January, the new cache of files shines an unflattering light on the church's response to one of the biggest scandals in its recent history, including how it was complicit in covering up the abuse and allowed abusing priests to remain in the ministry.

The document release includes some 15,000 pages of once-secret files that detail allegations dating back decades, 92 percent of which occurred before 1988. None of the priests named are still active in the ministry, nine are no longer priests and 14 are dead.

"The release, in combination with the January release, covers all the priests who have substantiated allegations of sexual misconduct with minors identified on the Archdiocese's website, with the exception of two priests where ongoing processes do not permit release," a statement from the Archdiocese explained.

Files related to the allegations against former priests Daniel McCormack and Edward Maloney because of pending litigation.

The archdiocese said it expects the new release to encourage other victims of abuse to come forward. After the January documents were made public, some 60 people came forward with new accusations of abuse.

Jan Slattery, director of the Archdiocese's office for the protection of children and youth, said the church is investigating those accusations.

The documents name the following priests (asterisks indicate deceased)

Alexander S. Baranowski* Richard B. Bartz Leonard A. Bogdan R. Peter Bowman* David F. Braun* Daniel P. Buck Eugene P. Burns* John W. Calicott Norman J. Czajka* Walter G. DeRoeck Francis E. Dilla* Richard W. Fassbinder* James V. Flosi Robert D. Friese Jesus P. Garza John E. Hefferan James Hoder Michael J. Hogan Walter E. Huppenbauer Robert L. Kealy John J. Keehan John J. Keough Leonard P. Kmak* William L. Lupo Robert J. McDonald Peter J. McNamara Gary M. Miller Donald J. Mulsoff* James M. Ray John A. Robinson John F. Rohrich Joseph E. Savage* Albert(o) Tanghal* Richard G. Theisen* Joseph S. Thomas* Anthony J. Vader*