Feb 22, 2007 10:54 am US/Central
Panel: Archdiocese Still Needs Work In Abuse Cases
Report Says Procedures For Removing Priests 'Far From Perfect'
CHICAGO (AP) ―
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Rev. Daniel McCormack
CBS
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Francis Cardinal George
CBS
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An eight-month review of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago showed some improvements in the handling of clergy sex abuse cases, but pointed to areas that were "far from perfect."
Francis Cardinal George appointed a nine-member committee made up of judges, child welfare advocates and law enforcement officials to review the archdiocese in the wake of the January 2006 arrest of former pastor Daniel McCormack.
McCormack was charged with abusing five boys between 2001 and 2005 at St. Agatha Catholic Church and Our Lady of the Westside School. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to the advisory committee's report, released Wednesday, the archdiocese has conducted 59,000 criminal background checks, required additional training for employees, hired a consultant and plans to instantly remove any priest accused of sexual abuse.
"We're not going to think about it, we're not going to consider it, we're not going to evaluate the quality of the allegation," said Chancellor Jimmy Lago. "We're going to take action immediately."
But Lago acknowledged more attention is needed on how the archdiocese monitors priests who have been removed.
The report said the procedures for removing priests from the ministry are "far from perfect."
The committee recommended that the archdiocese prod younger priests who are being monitored to resign voluntarily and "ways should be found to enforce more restrictive living conditions for those who will not resign."
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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