Parishioners Back Priest Accused of Sex Abuse, WBBM, January 23, 2006

Parishioners Back Priest Accused of Sex Abuse

WBBM
January 23, 2006

http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/3419.php?

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Parishioners stand behind a local Catholic priest accused of fondling two little boys, but it could be a whole different story when he has his day in court.

Father Daniel McCormack is scheduled for arraignment today (Monday), and some of his own words may be scrutinized.

The 37-year-old priest was arrested Friday for allegedly fondling two young boys over the past several years, stunning members and employees of the West Side church.

"He was a nice guy," said St. Agatha employee Nikki Lewis. "I would have never expected it."

"A good, caring person" is how many parishioners at Chicago's St. Agatha's Church describe McCormack, even as they learn about his arrest for the aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

McCormack is one of only a handful of Catholic priests ever to face criminal abuse charges, even though dozens have been accused in a nationwide church scandal over the past several years.

McCormack is one of only a handful of Catholic priests ever to face criminal abuse charges, even though dozens have been accused in a nationwide church scandal over the past several years.

It's a topic McCormack discussed in a 2002 interview he did for the Black Catholic Chicago Web site.

READ the entire article: www.blackcatholicchicago.org

In it, he's asked about the difficulty of being a priest in the present crisis. McCormack replied, "The Church is lead by the Spirit but run by sinful human beings. Sin will happen and that is reality. But how do we move from sin to redemption, sin to forgiveness?"

Prosecutors allege that McCormack's sexual abuse of an 8-year-old boy had already begun when that article was posted.

"To error is human," said church parishioner Trish Dunn. "I don't agree with what was done, but we'll pray for him."

McCormack's bond was set at $200,000. He bonded out sometime during the last 24 hours, according to a bond clerk.