January 28, 2006

Cardinal: Mistakes were made

CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Sun-Times

January 28, 2006

BY CARLA K. JOHNSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

A day after being released from a hospital, Cardinal Francis George said Saturday had he known several months ago what he knows now regarding a priest charged with molesting two boys, he would have found a way to remove him from a West Side parish.

"Had I known then what I think I know now, we would have perhaps found some way to take him out," George said.

The Rev. Daniel McCormack was charged Jan. 21 with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Prosecutors say he repeatedly molested two boys between 2001 and 2005.

McCormack was suspended and removed from St. Agatha Church several days before he was charged, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago has said.

But some critics have questioned why McCormack was allowed to remain at the church. The archdiocese has acknowledged that one of the charges stems from an allegation of sexual abuse that was first made in August.

Posted by kshaw at January 28, 2006 08:01 PM