Cardinal Says Archdiocese Could Face Reprimand

Cardinal Says Archdiocese Could Face Reprimand

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Members of the Chicago Archdiocese could be reprimanded for not responding quickly enough to allegations a priest was abusing children.

Cardinal Francis George today made that comment on the same day the church released findings of an investigation of the Rev. Daniel McCormack.

McCormack has been charged with sexually abusing three children. The Archdiocese says there are other families coming forward with allegations.

The Cardinal has been criticized for not removing McCormack when suspicions of abuse first surfaced. Today, he said the church failed to react promptly.

According to the Archdiocese, its Chancellor Jimmy Lagoh, will work to implement changes in church policy regarding allegations of sex abuse by a priest.

But the head of the group SNAP, or Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, says church procedures are not the problem.

SNAP President Barbara Blaine says it’s the church leadership that is dropping the ball, starting with the Cardinal.

Blaine says there’s a pattern of behavior where after abuse has occurred, the Cardinal apologizes, hand picks someone to look into making changes, tweaks policy, and then later down the road, there’s another abuse scandal.