As a Catholic and Chicagoan, it has been painful to watch the recent events involving Fr. McCormack and the Archdiocese. I have read the accounts in the local papers and seen the reports of the electronic media and however this happened, the Cardinal has accepted responsibility and apologized. Although I grieve the fact that as a result of problems in the AD bureaucracy that still more children will suffer, I also see a bishop who without question is saying 'the buck stops with me.' If nothing else, this is a first step for someone of the Cardinal's stature to accept responsibility for this error.
Anyone who has worked for a large bureaucracy (I have) knows how easy it is for misunderstandings to occur. I very much doubt that the SNAP people will see anything of merit in the Cardinal's admission as they are almost permanently mired in the early stages of the healing process-anger.
As someone who has worked in the social services,over the years, I have seen colleagues not act on reportable situations and child protective workers similarly identify more with the adults whom they are investigating than with the children whom they are supposedly protecting. We all error in this area continually.
A word of support for the Cardinal. This is a circumspect man, so these events are very difficult to understand. But I believe he is also a very good man who will learn from these events. He is still someone whom I value as a spiritual leader and he is in my daily prayers (as well as the children).
As a faithful Catholic, I have been appalled by all the recent scandals. The church was not able to prevent these past events. Now Fr. Michael Pflager is a new and incredible embarrasment. Cardinal George you have the opportunity to silence this priest. Please do it before he becomes a national scandal.
If you take some action the rest of the catholics will not feel that the church is impotent.
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