CHICAGO (IL)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
F.N. D'ALESSIO
Associated Press
CHICAGO - The leader of Chicago's Roman Catholic archdiocese said Thursday he should have removed a priest charged with abusing three boys much sooner and vowed to help fix a system "that wasn't adequate."
Cardinal Francis George made the comments at a news conference hours after the Rev. Daniel McCormack was released on $500,000 bond, paid by family members. McCormack, 37, was charged last month with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and was charged on Wednesday with a third count.
The case has drawn criticism for the archdiocese because McCormack, 37, was not removed from public ministry until months after allegations against him surfaced.
"I should have found some way to take him out (sooner)," George said. "I wasn't vigilant enough in that case. I was too used to following the process."
Before his release, McCormack stood silently before a Cook County judge as his attorney proclaimed his innocence.