MERRILLVILLE (IN)
Post-Tribune
MERRILLVILLE — An advocacy group for victims of sexual abuse by priests has called for the Diocese of Gary to investigate the actions of an alleged pedophile priest who concelebrated Mass at St. Mary Church in Crown Point.
Three members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests gathered outside the Diocese of Gary office building Monday in Merrillville.
The group hand-delivered a letter to Bishop Dale Melczek, urging the diocese to “check into” whether the Rev. Daniel McCormack, charged with sexual abuse of three boys in Chicago, may have committed crimes against children in Northwest Indiana.
The Post-Tribune first reported Jan. 27 that McCormack, the 37-year-old priest mired in scandal for his alleged actions at Chicago’s St. Agatha Church, concelebrated Mass on occasion at St. Mary, where members of his family were parishioners.
The Rev. Brian Chadwick, spokesman for the Diocese of Gary, said McCormack concelebrated Mass four times within the last “10 years or so.” Chadwick said McCormack concelebrated three first Holy Communion masses within the last five years and participated in one baptism prior.