About This Series

Indianapolis Star
February 16, 1997

[See links to all the articles in this series from the Indianapolis Star.]

The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis News spent eight months reporting Faith Betrayed. Reporters reviewed hundreds of documents and conducted scores of interviews with priests, parishioners and diocese officials, as well as accused perpetrators and victims. Some names have been withheld to protect victims and confidential sources.

The complete series will be available on the newspapers' Web site:

http //www.starnews.com/

Give Us a Call

Readers can provide feedback in four ways. Call Infoline at 317-624-4636 and punch 3877. Or write Mark J. Rochester, Assistant Managing Editor/Projects, The Star/News, PO. Box 145, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206-0145. To ask a specific question, call 317-624-4648. Or send an e-mail response to:

mrochester@stamews.com

Day by Day

Today: In the Lafayette Diocese, sexual abuse and misconduct allegations against priests have occurred at a rate about five times the national average. Most abuses have been kept secret by bishops determined to protect the church. Even abusers of children and teens avoided prosecution. Bishop William L. Higi says he is doing his best to address the problem, but critics say he hasn't gone far enough to ease victims' pain or to safeguard the public.

Monday: Diocese officials draw a sharp line between priests who molest young children and those who abuse teens. In fact, discipline is based largely on the ages of the victims. After therapy, priests who abused teens can start new lives or even return to ministry. This approach leaves some experts baffled — and victims angry.

Tuesday: Two priests are back in the pulpit after being accused of abusing their power in sexual relationships with vulnerable men. The Catholic Church today is exploring new ways to help priests deal with their sexuality and keep their pledge to live celibate lives.

The Reporters

Linda Graham Caleca and Richard D. Walton are veteran investigative reporters whose work has exposed institutions that failed to protect the public. Each has garnered numerous journalism and public service awards.

• Caleca is a projects writer who joined The Star in 1985. She has worked as an assistant city editor and was the editor of the projects team that won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism for stories on medical malpractice in Indiana. She came to The Star from United Press International, where she was Midwest news editor.

• Walton joined The Star in 1978. He has covered issues including medicine and state government. He recently uncovered serious management problems affecting care at the Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He also has documented how staff members at some hospitals go against the rules and allow terminally ill or injured patients to die.
Both reporters have won The Star's annual Lester Hunt award for reporting excellence.

• Judith Cebula, who joined The News in 1992, covers religion. For this series, she examined the larger issue of how the Catholic Church deals with sexuality and misconduct.

Other staff members who helped prepare the series:

Project editor - Mark J. Rochester
Copy editor - Stu Warner
Illustrator - Tom Peyton
Photographer - Susan Plageman
Graphic artist - Elizabeth Weaver
Designers - Tom Peyton, Curt Wellman