.- Cardinal Francis George has named the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago to oversee future allegations of sexual abuse by clergy.
Announced this week, Jimmy M. Lago has already ordered an independent review of the policies and procedures regarding abuse allegations. This announcement came just days after a priest was indicted on charges of sexual abuse, reported the Chicago Tribune.
According to the Tribune, Lago has also commissioned a review the archdiocese's monitoring practices for priests permanently removed from ministry and for those who are waiting for allegations to be investigated.
Lago’s new responsibilities include “disciplinary actions, if called for, in cases where a policy or practice is violated,” the cardinal said.
Lago is an experienced child advocate who has been associated with the archdiocese since 1976, reported the Tribune. He serves on the Ethics Commission of the Inspector General's office of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. He also played a part in the passage of the state's Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and was the author of the 10-year report on clerical sexual abuse in the archdiocese in 2003. He has been chancellor since 2006.
