February 09, 2006

The Continuing, Coast-to-Coast Battle Between the Catholic Church and the Law on Childhood Sexual Abuse: Why It is Time for Federal Legislation

UNITED STATES
FindLaw

By MARCI HAMILTON
hamilton02@aol.com

Thursday, Feb. 09, 2006

When the Catholic Bishops recently met in Washington, DC, their leadership stated that the clergy abuse crisis was behind them.

But as the events of the last week have made clear, there is no such reprieve.

This is an enduring, coast-to-coast national disaster, and it is now time for Congress to pay close attention. Federal legislation can, and should, be passed to protect our nation's children. Examples from across the country prove the point. The bottom line is that children remain seriously at risk.

The Chicago Archdiocese

Like so many others, the Chicago Archdiocese's Francis Cardinal George is on record as saying that the Archdiocese has adopted and followed a "zero-tolerance" policy for child abusers within its ranks. Sadly, it is all too clear that the Archdiocese's policies have posed continuing danger to children.

Last week, Father Daniel McCormack turned himself into Chicago police, after a twelve-year-old boy came forward to say that he had been abused by McCormack in December. This boy came forward after two other boys had made similar allegations.

Posted by kshaw at February 9, 2006 07:11 AM