Church in the World

Diocesan report exposes gay affairs

United States

Richard Major 12 August 2006

THE DIOCESE of Springfield, Illinois, has released a damning independent report on its own former bishop, Daniel Ryan, who retired in 1999 amid allegations of sexual misdeeds and misgovernment. Springfield's present bishop, George Lucas, hired a former government lawyer, J. William Roberts, to conduct the investigation, and his report says that Bishop Ryan did indeed engage in "improper sexual conduct and used his office to conceal his activities". The bishop's partners were adult males so no criminality is involved.

Mr Roberts found the "culture of secrecy fostered under Bishop Ryan's leadership discouraged faithful priests from coming forward with information about misconduct with minors". This secrecy extended to the diocesan chancellor, Mgr Eugene Costa, whose behaviour was exposed when he was beaten by two youths he had propositioned in a city park.

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