Religions > Atheism > More charges against Father McCormack More charges against Father McCormack [chicago]
| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"stoney" |
| Date: |
11 Feb 2006 11:41:30 PM |
| Object: |
More charges against Father McCormack More charges against Father McCormack [chicago] |
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3866118
More charges against Father McCormack
Archdiocese removes another priest
WLS By John Garcia
February 1, 2006 - New charges have been filed against a Chicago priest
accused of sexually abusing children. Father Daniel McCormack turned
himself in to police Wednesday night. The new charges come the same day
another priest accused of abuse was removed from public ministry.
Francis Cardinal George is said to be deeply troubled by these latest
allegations. A spokesman says the cardinal is re-evaluating church
policies. He wants to determine whether it is possible to remove priests
from public work while allegations are being investigated. Critics say
that is what he should have been doing all along.
Area Four Police Headquarters is where Father Daniel McCormack spent
Wednesday night. The priest turned himself in for the second time in a
week to face charges that he abused a young boy in the Saint Agatha's
parish. The 12-year-old came forward after two other boys made similar
allegations against Father McCormack.
"For our efforts, we were able to do something about getting a very
serious offender off the streets and hopefully behind bars," said Jeff
Anderson, alleged victim's attorney.
Francis Cardinal George faced tough questioning about his handling of
Father McCormack from parishioners at St. Agatha's earlier this week.
The new charges bring more heat on the Chicago archdiocese from victims'
groups.
"This young boy might not have been abused if Cardinal George had done
the right thing," said Barbara Blaine, S.N.A.P.
The charges fall on the same day the cardinal removed another priest,
Father Joseph Bennett, from public ministry because of allegations of
sexual abuse. Bennett was serving at Holy Ghost Church in South Holland,
and the allegations date back more than 30 years.
But a spokesman for the archdiocese says the recent developments have
led to some soul searching. Chicago Archdiocese spokesperson Jim Dwyer
issued a statement Wednesday, saying "We are deeply troubled by the new
allegation. Our prayers go out to everyone involved and we will continue
to fully cooperate with civil authorities in the investigation."
Critics, however, say the church should have been doing that all along.
"I had been led and misled by them into believing that they really had a
process that was ahead of the curve when in fact i have come to believe
that they're way behind where they need to be," said
The attorney has worked on similar cases around the country, and he says
he believes Chicago's archdiocese is among the worst in dealing with sex
abuse allegations.
The archdiocese is encouraging anyone with further information about
Father McCormack or any other priest to come forward by calling its
hotline or going to authorities.
/end
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a cornucopia of splinters.
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