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	Chicago Cardinal Admits 'Failure,' Accepts Responsibility Catholic Online [Chicago IL] March 21, 2006 http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=19129 CHICAGO (CNA) – Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said he was "deeply troubled" by the findings of two reports the archdiocese released March 20 highly critical of its handling of clerical sex abuse. "This is a tragedy for the children, for their families and all who are involved. But it also represents failures within the archdiocese to react promptly and appropriately to what happened in these cases," the cardinal said in a March 20 statement. One report focuses on the handling of the cases of two archdiocesan priests – Father Daniel McCormack and Father Joseph Bennett – who were monitored but not immediately removed from ministry after abuse allegations arose against them. The second report examined the system of monitoring of priests who have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse against them. "Sexual abuse or molestation of a child by any adult is disordered," he said. "It is a sin and a crime." "When children or young people," he added, "are robbed of their innocence and suffer the pain, anguish and anxiety caused by the illegal and immoral actions of a priest, a person of trust, the tragedy of sexual abuse is compounded." He pointed out that archdiocesan priest Father Daniel McCormack "has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing three children" and that the church is continuing to look into additional accusations by more families. "It is up to the legal process now to determine innocence or guilt on the part of Father McCormack," he said, "but we have tried to examine our own actions and mistakes." "We are here today", he went on, "to report to the people of the community on how we intend to move forward to further strengthen our commitment to the protection and safety of children." Cardinal George also said that he has asked Chancellor Jimmy Lago, "an expert in child welfare, to take a hard look at what went wrong and to implement changes." The cardinal took the opportunity to accept responsibility for his role in the archdiocesan handling of sexual abuse cases. "For the many missteps in responding to the accusations of sexual abuse of minors by Father McCormack," he said, "I accept responsibility." "For the tragedy of allowing children to be in the presence of a priest against whom an accusation of sexual abuse had been made," he continued, "I am truly sorry. I should have focused more clearly on the actions we needed to take and I should have taken them more quickly." "For not following the advice of our independent Professional Responsibility Review Board to remove Father McCormack temporarily, even without a judgment about his actions," he added, "I am deeply sorry." The cardinal stressed his commitment "to a full disclosure of the facts and to the implementation of deliberate, meaningful changes to do all in our power to ensure that such events never happen again." The reports, based on investigations conducted by two outside consultants and an internal review, showed widespread breakdown in communications within the archdiocese and noted that the archdiocese's failure to follow its own procedures may have violated Illinois law. The investigations were sparked by allegations against Father McCormack. He pleaded not guilty earlier this month to aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges and is accused of molesting three boys between September 2001 and January 2005. Jim Dwyer, a spokesman for the archdiocese said that all of the information in the report has now been turned over to prosecutors, who will decide if penalties should be imposed on the church or its employees.
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