Controversy Surrounds U.S. Bishops Conference, by Jessica Novak, The Examiner, November 14, 2007

Controversy Surrounds U.S. Bishops Conference

By Jessica Novak
The Examiner
November 14, 2007

http://www.examiner.com/a-1047221~Controversy_surrounds_U_S__Bishops_Conference.html

BALTIMORE - Despite protests from sexual abuse victims, Chicago Cardinal Francis George was elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops during the group's annual fall meeting in Baltimore.

He comes to the office after serving as conference vice president for three years. As president, George will serve as the spokesman for the bishops and represent the U.S. church in Vatican meetings.

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president-elect of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaks during a news conference after his election Tuesday, Nov.13, 2007 in Baltimore.
Photo by Steve Ruark

But according to Barbara Blaine, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, who was sexually abused at age 13, Cardinal George allowed the Rev. Daniel McCormack, a Chicago pastor, to serve in a ministry position, despite the fact he knew McCormack had molested children.

Blaine said George's remarks in a private letter obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times are hurtful.

"[The] Times reveals that earlier this year George wrote to the parents of a victim that it is 'irresponsible' to suspend the statute of limitations so victims could expose their predators in court and that such efforts are 'not about safety of children but about money.'

In response to the letter, George said it was taken out of context from a private letter meant to comfort.

George has "the very best record of any of the cardinals for hiding pedophile priests in unsuspecting dioceses, sending them to countries where they can't be extradited and discrediting the victims," said Kurt Gladsky, 54, who said he was molested in 1967 by a brother at Calvert Hall College High School, where he graduated in 1971.

When asked about sending clergy who have molested children to foreign lands, Cardinal George said he was shocked.

"I have never appointed a priest to any post or sent to a priest to any place if I knew he had sexually abused a child," he said. "If someone has information about that, I'd like to get it."

Reflecting societal trends outside the church, reported incidents of sexual abuse by priests are increasing, according to preliminary findings by researchers hired by the Catholic Church to examine what leads some priests to abuse children.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a division of the City University of New York, conducted the research, expected to be completed by 2008.

Divided into three components, the study will review the historical context of sexual abuse, individual dioceses' responses to notorious cases of abuse after 1985 and the differences between priests accused of sexual abuse and sex offenders who are not priests. Through Thursday, bishops at the conference will continue to debate and vote on issues affecting the Catholic Church.

Contact: jnovak@baltimoreexaminer.com