Incoming Chicago Archbishop Urged to Address Abuse

Fox Chicago
November 11, 2014

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/27357983/incoming-chicago-archbishop-urged-to-address-abuse

A prominent lawyer for victims of sexual abuse says the incoming archbishop of Chicago should require all archdiocese priests to sign statements testifying they never abused a child.

That's among the actions attorney Jeff Anderson said Blase (BLAHZ') Cupich (SOO'-pihch) should promptly take to address the festering issue. Cupich takes over the nation's third largest archdiocese this month. He comes to Chicago after serving as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane.

Anderson and other plaintiffs' attorneys criticize outgoing Cardinal Francis George for sometimes appearing to downplay the severity of priest abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Anderson says Cupich comes from a culture that emphasizes secrecy. However, victims' advocates have extended a hand of cooperation to him.

Anderson says Cupich needs "to jump outside the box of clerical secrecy."