Good morning, Chicago.

The Rev. George Clements helped propel the Black Catholic movement, created the “One Church, One Child” initiative urging adoption and, against church practice, adopted children himself.

Those headline-grabbing and sometimes polarizing moves served as cover for the late South Side pastor to orchestrate a “decades-long child sex ring” at his parish, according to a new series of lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Chicago.

“The charismatic local icon, civil rights leader, famed for his unprecedented adoption of four children, was an absolute imposter and probably the most prolific child molester in the history of the Archdiocese of Chicago,” said Sean O’Malley, a lawyer at Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, which announced the suits yesterday.

Read the full story from the Tribune’s Shun Graves.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what was said in last night’s lone debate for Illinois governor, when the Cortland Street Bridge is expected to reopen and what we saw at the red carpet for the premiere of “Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story.”

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Pope Leo spent a peaceful night in the hospital after surgery to remove cancer, Vatican says

Pope Leo XIV spent a peaceful night in Rome’s Gemelli hospital after doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed he has cancer, the Vatican said today.

The surgery confirmed that the pope has the most common type of lung cancer, known as lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin late yesterday.

Related:

• Vatican says Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and the lower lobe of his right lung was removed

In lone debate for Illinois governor, Darren Bailey gets testy as JB Pritzker links challenger to Trump

The lone scheduled face-to-face meeting between the major-party candidates for Illinois governor turned chippy last night, as Republican Darren Bailey repeatedly attacked and interrupted Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who countered by casting his challenger as a conservative extremist and a follower of President Donald Trump.

Related:

• Illinois voter guide to the 2026 midterm elections in November

Woman alleges sexual assault in bathroom at off-campus fraternity near University of Chicago in police report

A woman alleged she was sexually assaulted inside a bathroom over the weekend at an off-campus fraternity house near the University of Chicago, according to a police report, which also states that a group of three to five men were outside the door cheering while the incident was occurring.

Fatal Green Line stabbing prompts call by State’s Attorney Burke for electronic monitoring reform

The Kenwood man accused of fatally stabbing a CTA janitor last week was on electronic monitoring when the attack broke out, prosecutors alleged at an initial hearing in the case over the weekend, a development that has prompted the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to once again call for reforms with the technology.

After report of partying in Dubai with Texas Senate candidate, accused Loretto Hospital fraudsters plead not guilty

A day after a national news report linked them to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a former executive at Chicago’s Loretto Hospital and one of his top medical suppliers were arraigned on a superseding indictment alleging they stole almost $16 million from the small safety-net facility.

Billionaire donor Michael Sacks gives $150,000 to school board president candidate Jessica Biggs

Billionaire Democratic donor Michael Sacks donated $150,000 to school board president candidate Jessica Biggs, the largest individual contribution to date in the November race, state records show.

Sacks, who served as an adviser to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has become a lightning rod for criticism from the progressive Chicago Teachers Union and its allies, who have decried the influence of the ultrawealthy in the race.

Related:

• What to know before you vote in Chicago’s elected school board races
• Voting in Chicago’s school board elections? Find your district with our lookup tool.

Cortland Street Bridge expected to reopen by end of 2028

Construction work on the Cortland Street Bridge, which has been closed to vehicle traffic for more than a year, could be completed around the end of 2028, the Chicago Department of Transportation said yesterday.

Chicago Media Report: Mike Ditka made The Score the talk of the town — and Schwinn hits Chicago film fest

Mike Ditka, the late Hall of Fame Bears player and coach, had a notorious love/hate relationship with the media throughout his football career and beyond.

But Da Coach not only drew microphones, cameras and notepads at every turn, he essentially made The Score, then a fledgling daytime-only AM station, his on-air home and the center of Chicago’s sports talk universe during his waning days with the Bears.

Chicago Bears Q&A: What’s behind Colston Loveland’s low numbers? Does a bad loss alter trade plans?

The Caleb Williams watch is on this week as the Bears determine whether their starting quarterback will be cleared to return from a hamstring injury and start Sunday in Atlanta.

Beyond that, this week’s Bears mailbag saw plenty of questions about offensive inefficiencies and struggles at cornerback, as well as the trade market and more.

More on the Bears:

• Bears DE Montez Sweat suspended for 2 games for violating performance-enhancing drug policy