Church Reform Group Seeks to Meet with Pope Francis

By Rachael Levy
Chicago Tribune
March 15, 2013

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-church-reform-group-seeks-to-meet-with-pope-francis-20130315,0,4859010.story

Newly elected Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after being elected. (Reuters / March 13, 2013)

A prominent activist group in the Roman Catholic Church's clergy-abuse scandal today called for Pope Francis to meet with them and for Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George to help bring about that meeting.

“We want to begin a new dialogue with him, and with the church we want to begin a real dialogue about prevention of child sexual abuse,” said Peter Isely, the Midwest director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, at a Friday morning press conference in front of Chicago archdiocesan headquarters.

Standing in front of a handful of abuse victims and church reform advocates, Isely called for a rule within the church that would eject clergy who have abused children.

Isely said “the vast majority of priests are laboring and working on behalf of children,” but emphasized the need to “turn a new page” and his hope for future dialogue.

“There has probably been more progress in 15 years than there has been in 15 centuries,” Isely said.