Survivors Network Of Those Abused By Priests Protests Pick For Cardinal George's Successor
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Not everyone is giving Chicago's next Roman Catholic archbishop high marks.
The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) staged a small protest outside the news conference at which Archbishop-designate Blase Cupich was presented to the media and issued a statement in which they said they are not optimistic that Cupich will do more to prevent abuse by priests and other church workers.
SNAP quotes the Spokane (Wash.) Spokesman Review, which reported that more than 200 victims have come forward in Spokane, a diocese that is already reeling from bankruptcy caused by abuse suits.
"Pope Francis has delivered Chicago Catholics new wine skins but the same old wine," said Kate Bochte, a SNAP leader.
Bochte said that in 2010, Cupich told reporters that the clergy sex abuse scandal was over.
"Clearly, it was not," said Bochte, who called the statements "ignorant, very offensive and dangerous."
At the news conference, Bishop Cupich credited Francis Cardinal George for prodding the Roman Catholic Church into adopting a worldwide "zero tolerance" position on abuse.
"We have made progress. We have done a great deal," Bishop Cupich said.
SNAP contends that the attitude by the Archdiocese toward accusations and accusers is hostile, that those making complaints find themselves being investigated and that secrecy remains the norm.
Bochte said if the new archbishop wants to show he is sincere following his Nov. 18 installation, he should immediately suspend any priest or church worker accused of sexual improprieties, visit parishes in which documented abuse has occurred and release Archdiocesan files on abuse allegations.
Cardinal George said one of the first issues discussed following Bishop Cupich's arrival from Spokane Friday was the status of sexual abuse allegations in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
"He'll be fully briefed," the Cardinal said. "We spoke about that briefly last night."
Cardinal George said he asked the same question when he returned to Chicago 17 years ago and that aides to the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin met with him for several hours to review every case then known.
"That will happen here, too," the Cardinal said.