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More news regarding sexual abuse from the Catholic Church...On May 12, 2004, the Chicago Tribune reported that nine former students at the now closed Boston School for the Deaf filed suit on May 10, 2004 claiming they were physically, sexually and emotionally abused by staff at the school, inclduding nuns. The defendants either denied the allegations or refused to make any statements.

Interestingly, the Tribune reported the same day that the head of a Roman Catholic review board looking into allegations of abuse accused Catholic Bishops of trying to block the Review Panel from doing a second round of audits to ensure that children are protected from abuse in the future. Illinois Appellate Judge Ann Burke, the head of the Review Board wrote the letter to Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. In the letter Burke noted that "Those who said the bishops were never serious about breaking free from the sins, crimes and bad judgment of the past will be vindicated." The bad blood stems from the apparent decision of the Bishops to wait until November to decide whether a second round of Audits would even be allowed. To quote Bishop David Ricken of Cheyenne, Wyoming, "I do believe that, after such a storm for two years, the bishops need a bit of a break to reflect on all that has happened so that we can move ahead, thoughtfully, and prayerfully, instead of rushing in and making alot of mistakes that we will regret later." What a bunch of bullshit. They should be as open and candid as possible, permitting as many audits as are necessary to get to the bottom of this mess. And clearly additional investigation is necessary, in light of the developments in Boston. But the Bishops don't want to rush in and make any "mistakes"? Like telling the truth perhaps, or providing full and good faith disclosure. Their attitude is reprehensible.