Feb. 3, 2006

Dear Dr. Ewers:

Last week, we learned about three more alleged abusive Chicago priests.

The Cardinal didn’t tell us.

His assistant bishops didn’t tell us.

His PR man didn’t tell us.

His so-called Victims Assistance Coordinator didn’t tell us.

His so-called Lay Review Board didn’t tell us.

His dozens and dozens of chancery office staff didn’t tell us.

His hundreds and hundreds of priests didn’t tell us.

We learned about these accused child molesters because of brave victims, good cops, and a caring lay person.

Victims spoke up about Fr. Joseph Bennett.

Police arrested Fr. Dan McCormack.

A Catholic lay women “outed” Monsignor Dominic Diederich.

Only after these caring individuals took action did Cardinal George do something.

All three have been credibly accused of molesting kids. At least two of them face multiple allegations. One of them has been arrested and criminally charged.

Sadly, all of these men were accused years ago. But the Cardinal didn’t warn his flock. The Cardinal kept quiet, again.

Something must change. You’re head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. You must act.

Please don’t insult us by claiming that you have no real authority and that this is not your role that you don’t know enough about the situation.

You can read news accounts and talk with people involved and learn. You can speak publicly about any injustice anywhere, whether your have formal authority or responsibility or not. We believe

to hold recalcitrant bishops accountable on sexual abuse.

Now is the time to live up to this promise.

We believe that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

We also believe that those who don’t discipline wrong-doers encourage wrong-doers.

We know church officials will accuse us of being angry and vindictive.

But everyone knows that when there are no consequences for recklessness, recklessness continues.

So for the safety of kids, for the healing of victims, and for the good of the church, we believe that Cardinal George must be disciplined in some way.

On his watch, credibly accused abusive priests stayed in active ministry for years, until very recently.
On his watch, those allegations were kept secret.
On his watch, at least one priest apparently molested several children repeatedly.

In response, the Cardinal proposes to tweak his so-called policy and offers a so-called apology. These steps of course change nothing. Those have been done time and time and time again.

Action protects kids, not apologies.

People protect kids, not policies.

In government, in the business world, in the military, in other non-profits, irresponsible behavior that leads to the rape of children is not tolerated.

But in the Chicago archdiocese, it IS tolerated, because nothing happens to anyone who acts recklessly and causes kids to be sodomized.

That much change.

The buck stops with Cardinal George. Ultimately, he should be disciplined for the fact that innocent kids were needlessly put at risk and likely repeatedly molested on his watch because he prefers secrecy to openness and he cares more about his reputation than his flock.

We call on you to do this.

No one relishes the idea of someone being fired, or being suspended, or being disciplined. No one wants to see another person suffer.

But we’re convinced that some adult must endure consequences or else kids will keep enduring abuse.
It’s just that simple.

And until some adult endures consequences, all of Cardinal George’s words ring hollow. He can shout “zero tolerance” at the top of his lungs. But if he insists on “all carrot and no stick,” abuse will keep happening and being hidden in his archdiocese.

Some 800 pedophile priests have been suspended because of proven, admitted or credible abuse charges.
Several bishops have stepped down because of proven, admitted or credible abuse charges.
One bishop has resigned because he covered up proven, admitted or credible abuse charges.

But no one in the Chicago archdiocese has ever lost a day’s pay because of this horrific scandal.

Cardinal George may say “The problem is our policy.”

And of course every policy can always be improved. But this policy is irrelevant. Cardinal George isn’t following the national policy. Why would he follow his own policy?

Cardinal George may say “We’re a forgiving church.”

Of course he’s right. But forgiveness is a private choice. Disciplining child rape is a public act.
Forgiving someone helps us heal. Disciplining someone helps safeguard kids.

The two aren’t mutually exclusive. And they shouldn’t be confused.

Cardinal George may say “I won’t blame others.”

First, he already has. Second, it’s not about blame. It’s about preventing child rape. By definition, that means someone is disciplined when preventable rape happens.

The bottom line: kids need action, not words. They need up front protection, not afterwards apologies.

And they need church officials like you to honor your pledges and discipline Cardinal George.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Barbara Dorris
Outreach Director, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
6245 Westminster Place
Saint Louis, MO 63130
314 862 7688

Barbara Blaine
President and Founder, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
700 N. Green, Suite 504
Chicago, IL 60622
312 399 4747

SNAPnetwork.org