BishopAccountability.org
	Principal Who Criticized Archdiocese Fired By Karen Jordan ABC 7 [Chicago IL] June 7, 2007 http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5376205 June 7, 2007 - A Catholic school principal who spoke out against the Chicago archdiocese's handling of a priest abuse case has been fired from her job. Barbara Westrick was dismissed Thursday as head of Our Lady of the Westside School. Father Daniel McCormack is accused of fondling boys at that school and its parish, St. Agatha's on Chicago's West Side. Westrick said she did not heed the warnings about repercussions for criticizing the Chicago archdiocese in the way it handled the Father Daniel McCormack alleged abuse scandal. A few months ago, a deadline to renew her contract passed and no action was taken. She said there was no question that the Archdiocese was waiting for the right time to fire her. "I just gave up my keys and I haven't said goodbye to my staff because I'm not supposed to come back," Westrick said. Westrick said she knew the end was near and it became official Thursday. The archdiocese delivered the news that afternoon in a closed door meeting with Westrick and her attorney. "The Cardinal is angry with me because I am the one who blew the whistle on the McCormack thing," Westrick said. Westrick said the job termination is payback for criticizing Francis Cardinal George for letting McCormack stay at the school after he was arrested in August of 2005 and accused of molesting a young male student. Westrick said she found out about the alleged abuse when a boy at the school told her in January of 2006 that McCormack molested him. "The Cardinal allowed him to abuse them from September to December because he wouldn't take them out of the parish," Westrick said. Westrick says she reported the alleged abuse to the Archdiocese and the police. Father McCormack was charged with several counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. She also criticized the archdiocese and the Cardinal about the situation and said that is why the school's new priest didn't renew her contract. Father Larry Dowling said the termination was not payback but the result of an extensive review of her abilities. "She was terminated based on my evaluation of her," Dowling said. Westrick was principal for four years and left Thursday with only a picture as a reminder of the 200 students she will leave behind. She said she is not sorry for speaking out about a situation that she felt was harmful to her students. "I would do it again," Westrick said. "I would do it a hundred times again because these kid are not throwaways." Father Dowling did not list the reasons he had for terminating Westrick. He said that the archdiocese does not discuss personnel matters. Westrick and her attorney will review the termination letter and determine whether any legal action will be taken. Meanwhile, Father McCormack will appear in court again on July 2.
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