BishopAccountability.org
	Some Angry over Election of Cardinal By Ed Stannard New Haven Register November 14, 2007 http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19021155&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=31007&rfi=6 Roman Catholics in Connecticut who are survivors of clergy sexual abuse were dismayed Tuesday by the election of Cardinal Francis George of Chicago to lead the nation's bishops. George, 70, was elected with 85 percent of the vote to serve as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for the next three years. "I'm not really surprised that he was elected — he was the next in line — but (I'm) very disappointed," said Kathy Rector of Southington, co-leader of the Connecticut chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "He's got a history of essentially not dealing with priests who have abused kids," Rector said. Church-reform groups and abuse-victim advocates picketed outside the conference hotel in Chicago this week, urging bishops not to elect George. They say his failure to immediately remove the Rev. Daniel McCormack from his Chicago parish in 2005 — when credible abuse accusations were made — is unacceptable. McCormack pleaded guilty in July to molesting five boys and was sentenced to five years in prison. George also sparked controversy because of statements he recently made criticizing lawsuits from victims of priest sexual abuse, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. In a letter obtained by the newspaper, the cardinal wrote to the parents of a victim and apologized "for the terrible abuse suffered by your son at the hands of Ken Ruge and Robert Becker," two now-deceased priests. He added that money was the motivation for proposed state legislation that would allow lawsuits against priests who allegedly abuse children after the statutes of limitation have expired. "This is irresponsible, is not about the safety of children as the sponsor claims, and is clearly, to me at least, about money," he wrote. The Rev. John Gatzak, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Hartford, said George is in support of the church's policies and that the church "continues to take every step possible that we protect our children and young people." At the same time, Gatzak said, some are concerned about "whether or not individuals that have been accused have been guaranteed their rights in court." George, the first cardinal elected to the post, is one of the nation's most senior churchmen, suggesting to some observers that the conference may be evolving into one that is as much about Rome speaking to the U.S. bishops as it is about the American church speaking out. George worked in Rome for more than a decade and served as the Vatican's point man on several issues.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.