"State report uncovers widespread sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Illinois"
A 696-page report by the attorney general of Illinois has revealed widespread sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy in the state, with 1,997 child survivors across seven decades. The report names 451 clerics and religious brothers with substantiated claims of sexual abuse against them, approximately 149 more than previously disclosed by the six Catholic dioceses that operate across Illinois. The report is the latest black eye for the Catholic Church in the US, which has faced a series of scandals related to alleged sexual abuse and cover-ups, resulting in billions of dollars worth of legal settlements.