The Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review (CAIR) works to provide a compassionate and thorough process to receive and investigate reports of abuse against personnel of the Archdiocese of Chicago. CAIR and the Independent Review Board were instated in 1992 by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin. Though the office title has changed through the years — initially titled the Office of Professional Fitness Review, and later named the Office of Professional Responsibility — the mission remains the same.
You have the right to report your story, and we are here to help, listen and connect you to the right services. To ensure the best resources and investigation practices are engaged, we encourage all allegations concerning the abuse and/or neglect of minors are reported to the DCFS Hotline (1.800.25.ABUSE) and/or the local police department first before reaching out to the Office of the Protection of Children and Youth (OPCY). If you need to report historical abuse, please contact OPCY at 312.534.5254.
CAIR is one of four offices that make up the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for the Protection of Children and Youth (OPCY). Each office works together to ensure cases are handled properly and by the most appropriate public authority, office and/or entity. CAIR is available to all individuals who choose to report their abuse as children or who have the knowledge of the abuse of children in the Church.
What We Do
Receive, review and investigate allegations of the sexual abuse of minors by clerics, lay employees and volunteers of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
In cases where the reported abuse took place outside of the Archdiocese of Chicago and/or by personnel not of the Archdiocese of Chicago, CAIR staff connects individuals reporting abuse with the appropriate public authority and/or entity.
Guide and advise on reporting non-sexual abuse and/or neglect to the appropriate public authority and/or entity.
The CAIR staff and fellow members of the OPCY observe mandated reporting requirements in the state of Illinois. Per archdiocesan policy, CAIR staff cooperates with public authorities investigating matters of the abuse of minors.
The Independent Review Board (Review Board) advises the Cardinal on allegations of sexual abuse of minors against clergy of the Archdiocese of Chicago who are in ministry.
The Review Board serves as advisory to the Cardinal in his assessment of allegations of sexual abuse of minors and in his determination of suitability for ministry of those clerics accused.
The Review Board consists of nine to 11 individuals appointed by the Cardinal. Six of the Review Board members are lay Catholics and are not employees of the church. They represent one of each of the following backgrounds: a psychiatrist, a psychologist or social worker, an attorney, a parish council member, a parent, and a victim/survivor or parent of a victim/survivor of child sexual abuse. Three members of the Review Board are clerics of this Archdiocese (two priests and one deacon). The Cardinal, in consultation with the Review Board, may appoint one or two additional lay Catholics who shall be considered at-large member(s). For any questions regarding the Independent Review Board, please contact
Sexual Abuse Of Minors: Policies And Education (PDF)
Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Minors (PDF)
The USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons (PDF)
Ten Year Report on Clerical Sexual Abuse of Minors In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Jan. 1, 1993-Jan. 16, 2003 (PDF)
Statement of Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. Archbishop of Chicago, March 20, 2006 (PDF)
Statement by Jimmy M. Lago, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago, March 20, 2006 (PDF)
August 12, 2008 News Release: Settlements Reached with Survivors of Sexual Abuse by Chicago Clergy (PDF)
Pugh, Jones, Johnson & Quandt, P.C. Report: Independent Investigation of Allegations of Racial Discrimination in the Archdiocese of Chicago's Settlement of Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Claims (PDF)
