Chicago, Ill., Aug 14, 2008 / 22:00 pm
The Archdiocese of Chicago has reached a settlement totaling $12,675,000 with 16 victims of clerical sexual abuse. Speaking about the settlement, Archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Cardinal George said he has to “accept the blame” for the abuse which occurred during his tenure.
Fourteen of the cases relate to abuse by ten different priests in incidents occurring between 1962 and 1994. Two relate to Daniel J. McCormack, who in 2007 pled guilty to having abused five children. With the new settlement, the archdiocese has settled four of the five cases to which McCormack pled guilty.
“My hope is that these settlements will help the survivors and their families begin to heal and move forward,” said Cardinal George in an archdiocesan press statement. “I apologize again today to the survivors and their families and to the whole Catholic community. We must continue to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the children in our care.”
"In the sense I'm responsible for this archdiocese, I have to accept the blame," George said at a Tuesday press conference, according to the Chicago Tribune.