Parents and communities trust schools with their children’s safety. That trust is shaken when a system meant to protect kids fails — and no one explains how or why.

In early 2026, the Archdiocese of Chicago acknowledged that a substitute teacher with a documented history of child sexual abuse convictions and allegations worked in multiple Catholic schools for more than a year. Archdiocese officials stated that this individual passed state background and fingerprint checks in 2024, yet legal experts quoted in reporting said such a result is extremely difficult to understand given the scope of his record. To date, the Archdiocese has not publicly answered detailed questions about how its vetting process was conducted or what went wrong.

When institutions responsible for educating and supervising children rely on background checks, families deserve to know those checks are thorough, consistent, and regularly reviewed. If a serious failure occurred — whether due to reliance on third-party vendors, incomplete searches, or outdated policies — the public deserves clarity, not silence.

We are calling on Cardinal Blase J. Cupich and the leadership of the Archdiocese of Chicago to take the following steps:

• Authorize an independent investigation into how this individual passed the Archdiocese’s vetting process;
• Publicly release the findings of that investigation;
• Commit to concrete reforms that strengthen screening, monitoring, and oversight for all school employees and contractors going forward.

Catholic schools educate tens of thousands of children across Chicago and its suburbs. Families of every background place their trust in these institutions every day. That trust can only be rebuilt through openness, accountability, and clear action to prevent future failures.

No parent should have to discover risks through a quick online search after harm has already occurred. Strong safeguards must exist before children are placed in danger.

We urge Archdiocese leadership to act now.