A spokesman with the Diocese of Belleville did not respond to phone calls and an email requesting comment Wednesday. The list on the diocese website has 17 names of priests cited in credible accusations from as early as 1993 to as recently as January. All of the priests have been removed from ministry. Nine are no longer living.

Madigan’s release Wednesday did not include more details about the newly uncovered allegations, but she said the dioceses frequently “failed” to “adequately investigate” the allegations or simply didn’t investigate them at all.

“The preliminary stages of this investigation have already demonstrated that the Catholic Church cannot police itself,” Madigan said. “Allegations of sexual abuse of minors, even if they stem from conduct that occurred many years ago, cannot be treated as internal personnel matters.”

In many cases, church officials never reported the allegations to police or the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Madigan said. Most people who reported abuse to church officials and requested follow-up information or action didn’t get it; survivors of abuse tracked their abusers as the church transferred clergy to different parishes.