Chicago archdiocese has released about 15,000 pages of previously secret files on clerical sex abuse in order to provide greater transparency.
The documents detail interpersonal communications between victims, the priests and archdiocese officials.
Making this information public comes after other documents were released in January as part of a settlement with victims.
The archdiocese says it is aware of 352 incidents of known abuse since 1952.
Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), said the document release represents “a tiny first step” for the archdiocese in addressing past abuse claims.
Cardinal Francis George said: We cannot change the past, but we hope we can rebuild trust through honest and open dialogue. Child abuse is a crime and a sin.”
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