press releases

Cardinal George Accounts to Lay Catholics

January 16, 2003

Chicago, January 16, 2003 --"The Catholic people deserve nothing less than the whole truth from our bishops," said Claire Noonan, a spokesperson for Call To Action. "CTA issued a call for full disclosure to all of the bishops in May, 2002, and the abuse victims have called for disclosure continually. We are glad that Cardinal George has now responded to these calls from victims and lay Catholics and welcome his forthright report."

Noonan was commenting on the Archdiocese of Chicago's release today of a report on its experience with clergy sex abuse over the past 10 years. Call To Action is the oldest national grassroots church reform organization in the U.S.

"Some additional information is still needed. First, priests of religious orders who were serving in the Archdiocese of Chicago at the time abuse occurred need to be accounted for. Second, the names of confirmed perpetrators, even those who are no longer serving as priests, should be collated and released. For the sake of victims' healing process, and for the protection of children to whom they may now have access, these names should be available to the public," said Noonan.

CTA hopes that other bishops will follow the lead of Cardinal George in delivering an accounting of their leadership to the Catholic people.

Call To Action is a national organization of 25,000 laity, religious, priests and bishops with its national office in Chicago. It has 40 local chapters. It advocates for reforms in the Catholic Church such as the ordination of women, optional celibacy for priests, more focus on the church's social justice teaching, and consultation with the Catholic people on church decision-making. Their comprehensive web site is at http://www.cta-usa.org.

CONTACT: Don Wedd 773-404-0004 ext. 270; after hours: Claire Noonan, 708 606-8769

 

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