3 More 'Possible Victims' of Chicago Priest Abuse, The Associated Press, carried in CBS 2, April 26, 2006

3 More 'Possible Victims' of Chicago Priest Abuse

The Associated Press, carried in CBS 2
April 26, 2006

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_116092146.html

(AP) Chicago - Chicago police have presented prosecutors with three additional "possible victims" of a priest already accused of molesting three boys.

The Rev. Daniel McCormack, 37, pleaded not guilty last month to charges that he molested the three boys between September 2001 and January 2005. The boys were 8, 9 and 11 years old at the time.

Now, Chicago police say there could be more victims.

Rev. Daniel McCormack
CBS

"We have presented three (more) possible victims to the state's attorney's office," said Monique Bond, Chicago police spokeswoman. "They are around the same ages as the other ones."

No new charges had been filed against McCormack as of late Tuesday.

The scope of the case against McCormack could become even larger.

Chancellor Jimmy Lago said the Chicago Archdiocese has received abuse allegations about McCormack from "more than 12 but less than 15" youths since January.

Lago said the new allegations have been reported to law enforcement authorities and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

McCormack had been the pastor of St. Agatha Church on the city's West Side. The Chicago archdiocese and Cardinal Francis George have been criticized for not removing McCormack from the parish until he was charged in January -- months after one of the allegations was made against him.

George has accepted blame for his archdiocese's handling of the situation, saying officials should have moved more aggressively to remove McCormack earlier.

"I thought that we had the process ... to take care of these things," George said in February. "Now, it turns out it wasn't adequate, that I wasn't adequate."