Chicago abuse case may prompt policy change, cardinal says

Published: 2006-02-01

CHICAGO (CNS) -- The case of a Chicago priest accused of sex abuse has pointed out a need for adjustments to policies in the Archdiocese of Chicago when it comes to removing priests from ministry following such allegations, said Cardinal Francis E. George. The archdiocese had no mechanism to remove Father Daniel J. McCormack as pastor of St. Agatha Parish after police launched an abuse investigation against him because the alleged victim did not make a statement to church officials. The cardinal said at a Jan. 28 news conference that he will ask other bishops for input on what to do in such situations at the March meeting of the Catholic Conference of Illinois and bring it up to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which he serves as vice president. At the news conference and at a Jan. 30 meeting with about 200 parents and parishioners at St. Agatha, Cardinal George acknowledged that the system the archdiocese has had in place since 2002 did not work as it should have.

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