W. Side | Thanks Parishioners for Patience during 'Terrible Tragedy'
By Stefano Esposito
Chicago Sun-Times
September 10, 2007
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/549809,CST-NWS-cardinal10.article
Cardinal Francis George faced the mostly African-American congregation at St. Agatha Catholic Church on Sunday morning and thanked them for their patience during "that terrible tragedy of sexual abuse."
It was the first time George had addressed the congregation since St. Agatha's former pastor, Daniel McCormack, was sentenced July 2 to five years in prison for molesting boys.
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| Cardinal Francis George leaves St. Agatha Catholic Church, whose former pastor, Daniel McCormack is in prison for molesting boys. Photo by Jean Lachat |
"I'm grateful to you and proud to be your bishop," George said, prompting applause from the audience. "I thank you also for your patience as we have tried to figure out where were the betrayals, what went wrong."
New pastor installed
George and the Chicago Archdiocese have come under relentless fire for missteps in the handling of the McCormack case. One outside audit revealed church authorities had knowledge of sexual misconduct allegations involving the priest long before McCormack's arrest in January 2006.
But both George and the St. Agatha congregation appeared ready to move on Sunday, as the cardinal officially installed new pastor Larry Dowling. Most church members interviewed Sunday said they were delighted to see George in their church, and few wanted to talk about McCormack.
"We're starting fresh," said Marcy Bledsoe-Hicks, 40. "I want to let bygones be bygones. I don't think this will ever happen again."
George has publicly apologized for allowing children to be in the presence of McCormack even after allegations of sexual abuse had been made against the priest. On Sunday, George told the congregation, without elaborating, that the McCormack story is incomplete.
"A lot of that is still a story that is not truly told, for various reasons," George said. "Sometimes things don't become really clear for many years, and sometimes, perhaps, not until Christ returns."
'He should not be the one'
Outside the church Sunday, representatives of SNAP -- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests -- asked parishioners to urge George to step aside and not run for president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. That organization is expected to elect a new president in November. The position usually goes to the vice president, currently George.
SNAP president Barbara Blaine told reporters that George, given his mishandling of the McCormack case, doesn't deserve to be "promoted."
"Because of Cardinal George's behavior and his leaving these children at risk, he should not be the one that heads up the bishops conference," Blaine said.
As he left Sunday's mass, George was asked by a reporter about SNAP's efforts to have him step aside. George replied: "I don't think they have any credibility on that issue."
Contact: sesposito@suntimes.com
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