The Illinois Catholic Dioceses have just published a statement and summary of their processes for handling allegations of sexual abuse of minors against clerics. You may download it below.
To connect with the resources available at the Office of Child and Youth Protection in our Diocese of Joliet, visit: https://protect.diojoliet.org/
Let us keep the victim-survivors in our prayers and pray too for accountability for those who perpetrated these offenses.
Prayer for Healing
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just:
You gave your only Son to save us by his blood on the cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.
Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who have been gravely harmed, and the cries of those who love them. Soothe their restless hearts with hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith. Grant them justice for their cause, enlightened by your truth.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness.
Grant us the courage and wisdom, humility and grace, to act with justice.
Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labors.
Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
St. James the Apostle Parish 