CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Tribune
By Jamie Francisco and Jon Yates
Tribune staff reporters
Published February 13, 2006
Waving hand-painted signs and chanting words of encouragement, more than 100 Catholics rallied in support of Cardinal Francis George on Sunday, hours after many local pastors read a letter in which George apologized to parishioners for his handling of a recent priest-abuse case.
Organizers said the rally, on the steps of Holy Name Cathedral on the Near North Side, was designed as a response to critics who have called on George to step down amid his handling of the abuse allegations.
"People hate Cardinal George because he stands for the truth. This is the truth," said Chicagoan Kelly Ames, talking through a bullhorn and waving a rosary made of redwood beads. "We cannot lose him. We cannot let people get him down."
Ames later said George has "been taking most of the blame, and he is in 100 percent support of all the victims."
Removing George is not the answer, she said. "The answer is chastity, faith, hope and obedience."