Cardinal promises change in sex abuse policies after new cases

Published: 2006-02-06

CHICAGO (CNS) -- A contrite Cardinal Francis E. George promised changes Feb. 2 in the way the Archdiocese of Chicago handles allegations of sexual abuse by priests after removing two pastors from their parishes in the past month. The archdiocese pledged to find a way to temporarily take priests who are accused of sexual abuse out of parish situations before officials even evaluate whether the charges are credible and to work with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services every time a priest is accused -- even if the abuse allegedly occurred decades earlier. The cardinal said at an earlier news conference that 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 the 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. Another Chicago priest, Father Joseph Bennett, pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in South Holland, was "temporarily withdrawn" from his parish in early February while the archdiocese's independent Professional Responsibility Review Board continued its inquiry into his alleged sexual misconduct 35 years ago with minor girls.

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