April 26, 2006

Statement by David Clohessy

"We're grateful that police and prosecutors keep digging into McCormack's crimes. Their work would be easier if Cardinal George would act like a true shepherd and prod his flock to come forward if they suspected, witnessed or experienced abuse by McCormack. Instead, George passively sits back, waits for the phone to ring, and hope that it doesn't.

Time and time again we've begged him to personally visit the places where McCormack has worked and gently but firmly urge Catholics with knowledge of sex crimes to call the police. He refuses.

Centuries of secrecy won't end unless and until church officials take affirmative, common sense steps to lead by example and show that they indeed truly want the wounded to come forward and get help. Yet George and his colleagues won't take simple, proven steps to help with a criminal investigation.

We again urge anyone who might have even a shred of information or evidence about McCormack's crimes or George's cover ups to find the courage and strength to pick up the phone and call law enforcement. When victims and witnesses stay silent, kids keep getting hurt. When victims and witnesses are brave enough to come forward, sometimes kids can be protected, the truth can emerge, wrong-doers can be prosecuted and our society can be made safer."

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/state/14431787.htm

Police present prosecutors with three more 'possible victims' of Chicago priest

Associated Press

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.

"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."