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	Abuse Reports Stir Action By Michelle Martin The Catholic New World [Chicago IL] April 2, 2006 http://catholicnewworld.com/cnw/issue/1_040206.html One more expert has been named to the ad hoc board advising archdiocesan officials on its handling of clerical sex abuse cases. Joseph J. Iacono, a downstate financial analyst, joins the group which includes judges, police, child abuse experts and civic leaders. The outside advisory group was among the reforms announced March 20 following release by archdiocesan officials of two reports highly critical of its handling of clerical sex abuse. A complete list of the advisory committee members appears on Page 36. A list of priests accused of sexual abuse appears on Page 11. The unfavorable reports, which had been commissioned by Chancellor Jimmy Lago, looked into the handling of the cases of Father Daniel McCormack and Father Joseph Bennett, and examined the monitoring of priests with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse. At a press conference March 20, Lago reaffirmed the commitment of Cardinal George, himself and the church of Chicago to protect children, but acknowledged that some advocacy groups have questioned that commitment since the McCormack and Bennett cases broke earlier this year. "You are going to have to judge us by our actions," Lago said, noting that the archdiocese intends to ask the auditors retained by the National Review Board to focus on the recommendations raised by these reports. "The important thing is that we have a blueprint for going forward." The outside consultants found that archdiocesan staff members and officials, from school personnel to the cardinal, failed to follow the procedures and policies the archdiocese had in place, and that the monitoring that was in place for 18 priests accused of sexually abusing minors is "insubstantial" and relies almost completely on the self-reporting of the priests. The report by former FBI agent Danny Defenbaugh noted a lack of communication among staff within the archdiocese, including the fact that Cardinal George was not told that McCormack was questioned by police for three days after the Vicar for Priests was told, and that he did not receive all the information he should have in the months that followed. Cardinal George had appointed Lago as the point person for dealing with all allegations of sexual abuse to help prevent similar situations from arising. Releasing the reports—which Lago said were among the most critical reports on any organization he had ever seen—is one of five steps the archdiocese is taking to prevent future missteps. He said the ad hoc advisory committee will help make sure the reports' recommendations are implemented; retaining a child welfare expert to help train archdiocesan staff and volunteers on how to report suspected abuse; voluntarily releasing a list of the names of priests who have been the subject of substantiated accusations of sexual abuse; amending reporting protocols with the state's attorneys in Cook and Lake counties and with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. In addition, the archdiocese will act on the reports' recommendations, and has turned over information to the Cook County state's attorney to see if any staff members will be subject to prosecution for failing to report allegations of sexual abuse, Lago said. Additional documents regarding McCormack were also released to authorities. Cardinal George said he is "deeply regretful" over the lapses in McCormack's case, especially since a child has come forward and said the former pastor at St. Agatha abused him while the archdiocese delayed action. "For the many missteps in responding to the accusations of sexual abuse by minors by Father McCormack, I must accept responsibility and I do," the cardinal said. "For the tragedy of allowing children to be in the presence of a priest against whom a current accusation of sexual abuse had been
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