For immediate release: Saturday, Jan. 28

Sex Abuse Victims Blast Gary Catholic Diocese
Its Officials Refuse To Investigate McCormack

Leaders of a support group are blasting the Catholic bishop of Gary Indiana for refusing to investigate whether an accused Chicago abusive priest may have molested children around Gary.

Fr. Daniel McCormack, who was charged a week ago with molesting two boys in Chicago, also apparently worked temporarily in Crown Point Indiana, according to today’s Munster (IN) Times.
McCormack reportedly has family members in that area.

But a Gary Diocese spokesman has publicly admitted that the Gary diocese won’t check in to whether or not McCormack may have sexually assaulted kids there too.

In a newspaper interview, Father Brian Chadwick said the Gary diocese “does not have reason to investigate” and its staff “don't presume to find those out unless contacted."

Leaders of a self-help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are upset with that decision.

“This is exactly the kind of callous inaction that caused tens of thousands of innocent Catholic kids to be molested time and time again by priests,” said Barbara Dorris, SNAP’s outreach director. “Why won’t they just put a three sentence announcement about McCormack in parish bulletins and the diocesan newspaper? How hard it that?”

The length of time or circumstances under which McCormack worked in Indiana is irrelevant, SNAP officials say.

“It takes only seconds for a predator to shove his hand down a kid’s pants,” said Dorris. “If church officials know he did any work in the Gary Diocese, it’s their moral duty to publicly seek out anyone who may have been hurt.”

Gary area Catholics may have information that could help Chicago prosecutors convict McCormack, SNAP points out.

“Even if Gary’s bishop ignores his moral duty, he’s still got a civic duty to help police investigate McCormack’s crimes,” said Barbara Blaine, SNAP’s Founder and President.

SNAP intends to write Gary’s bishop about their concerns next week.

Crown Point is in northwest Indiana, about 20 miles directly south of Gary, just off I-65.

Today’s Munster Times story is below:
Accused priest co-celebrated at C.P. church

Diocese said it isn't investigating unless it receives complaints

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Saturday, January 28, 2006 12:03 AM CST

Times Staff Report

CROWN POINT | A Chicago priest accused of sexually abusing children has co-celebrated Masses at St. Mary's Church, but the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary is not investigating the visits.
The Rev. Brian Chadwick, a diocese spokesman, confirmed Thursday that in recent years the Rev. Daniel J. McCormack has helped celebrate baptism and first holy communion Mass at the Crown Point church involving local family members who attend St. Mary's.

Chadwick said the diocese has procedures in place to handle claims that are made, but does not have reason to investigate in this instance.

"We act when we're given a claim or an allegation," he said. "We don't presume to find those out unless contacted. Then we investigate them diligently."

McCormack was charged last week with abusing two boys at St. Agatha's Church on Chicago's West Side, where he was a senior pastor. Church officials also now are investigating his conduct at other churches and schools.