CHICAGO (IL)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Victims to leaflet archbishop’s mass
They want “prevention, not symbolism”
“Disclose records on notorious predator,” they urge
SNAP: “Catholic officials are still hiding important documents”
Cupich should also apologize to fired whistleblower, victims say
And they urge him to go next to a parish where an accused cleric still works
WHAT:
As Chicago’s new archbishop says mass at a notorious pedophile priest’s former parish, concerned Catholics and clergy sex abuse victims will hand fliers to church-goers urging them to
–push Archbishop Blasé Cupich to disclose records about the predator, and
–aggressively seek out others who saw, suspected or suffered his crimes.
The victims will also prod Cupich to
–apologize to a female school principal and whistleblower who was fired, and
–go next weekend to a parish where a twice–accused priest is still on the job.
WHEN:
Sunday, Nov. 23rd, 10:15 a.m.
WHERE:
Outside St. Agatha’s Catholic Church, 3151 W. Douglas Blvd., Chicago 60623 (the corner of W. Douglas Blvd & S. Kedzie Ave., 773-522-3050)
WHO:
Four to five people who are members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
WHY:
A former priest at St. Agatha’s – Fr. Daniel McCormack – pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and was sentenced in 2007 to five years in prison. Virtually every high ranking archdiocesan staffer who ignored or concealed suspicions or knowledge of McCormack’s crimes has since been promoted.
The exception is the lone woman, Barbara Westrick, the former principal. She called police about allegations against McCormack. As a result, she says, she was fired.
SNAP wants Cupich to publicly apologize to Westrick.
The organization also wants him to personally visit St. Alphonsus parish next weekend (1429 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago 60657; 773-525-0709). That’s where Fr. Michael W. O’Connell remains on the job despite reports from two men that he molested them as boys.
Fr. O’Connell was temporarily removed from St. Alphonsus in December 2013 after the archdiocese received an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a boy at Our Lady of the Woods in Orland Park years earlier. In April of this year, then-Cardinal Francis George reinstated O’Connell even though the Cook County Sheriff’s Department never closed the criminal case.
Shortly thereafter, new allegations surfaced involving abuse of different boy in the 1990s and police continue to investigate. O’Connell, however, remains on the job. Catholic officials claim he will avoid the parish school and will not be alone with a child, a contention that SNAP calls “ludicrous and dangerous.”
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