CHICAGO (IL)
Catholic Online
21/2006
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)
CHICAGO (CNA) – Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said he was “deeply troubled” by the findings of two reports the archdiocese released March 20 highly critical of its handling of clerical sex abuse.
“This is a tragedy for the children, for their families and all who are involved. But it also represents failures within the archdiocese to react promptly and appropriately to what happened in these cases,” the cardinal said in a March 20 statement.
One report focuses on the handling of the cases of two archdiocesan priests – Father Daniel McCormack and Father Joseph Bennett – who were monitored but not immediately removed from ministry after abuse allegations arose against them. The second report examined the system of monitoring of priests who have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse against them.
“Sexual abuse or molestation of a child by any adult is disordered,” he said. “It is a sin and a crime.”