Here's a press release from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
WASHINGTON (November 13, 2007)– Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, has been elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for a three year term beginning in 2008. The election occurred November 13 during the bishops’ general meeting November 12-15 in Baltimore. Cardinal George received 188 votes out of 222 votes cast for a total of 85%.
Under USCCB by-laws, the nine remaining candidates become candidates for vice president. Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona was elected as the new USCCB vice president, capturing a majority of 55% of the votes.
Cardinal George succeeds Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, Washington. Prior to his election, Cardinal George was vice president of the USCCB, a position he held since 2004. He has served on many USCCB committees, chief among them Liturgy, Doctrine, Pro-Life Activities; and the sub-committee on lay ministry.
He was born in Chicago, on January 16, 1937; attended St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville, Illinois, entered the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1957, and was ordained on December 21, 1963.
Cardinal George earned a masters degree in philosophy at the Catholic University of America in 1965, a doctorate in American philosophy at Tulane University in 1970. He received a master’s degree in theology from the University of Ottawa.
After graduate work, he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he served as the Provincial Supervisor of the Midwestern Province for the Oblates. He then went to Rome between 1974 and 1986 after being elected Vicar General of the Oblates. In 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Yakima, Washington, where he served for five years until Pope John Paul named him archbishop of Chicago, following the death of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. On January 18, 1998, Pope John Paul II announced Archbishop George’s elevation to the College of Cardinals.Here's another report.
Certainly is quite a different report!!
ReplyDeleteBottom line: Fr. McCluskey molested four more children, due to Bishop George's failure to report him.
And this man was just elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops??? Bishop George claims to be an advocate for cleaning up the sex abuse crisis? He believes in "zero tolerance?
Maybe he means by sweeping it under the table. It all sounds way too familiar with what happened with Cardinal Law.
I fear we will never be able to heal from the sex abuse crisis while people responsible for covering up continue to be chosen as "leaders" in our church...it makes me so very sad...
ReplyDeleteIs this a sick joke?
ReplyDeleteThe sad part is that this shouldn't surprise us. What a sad day again in the life of the Catholic Church!
Unbelievable.
It's likely McCormack was grooming his superiors as he was attempting to groom the kids. For a smart guy, George looks like he was either duped or he's covering up.
ReplyDeleteRegarding that first report, I wonder why his one-year stint in Portland Oregon was left out? It was his first as an archbishop, and that usually is interpreted as an honor.
Todd
That is just sad and sick. And it underscores just how powerless we lay people are. Why did the police cite a "lack of evidence"? Do priests and principals get CORI'd now too, or is that just for us troublemakers at the ground level?
ReplyDeleteThank you for calling our attention to both reports...
Perhaps the "Other" report should have had some front page blog space.
ReplyDeleteVoice of the Faithful sent a letter to each of the U.S. bishops with a timeline of these events requesting that they not choose Cardinal George as their new head of USCCB. 85% of the bishops voted to elect Cardinal George. So the beat goes on.......last night Peter Borre was on WBZ discussing the news that Pope Benedict XVI will not be including Boston as one of his stops in U.S. trip next April. In the course of his remarks Peter said that the Archdiocese of Boston has been paying for a priest to be Cardinal Law's assistant in Rome. I think this is outrageous. This was the first time I had heard this. I am really sorry that the Pope isn't coming to Boston. I think only by a trip to our city would he and the hierarchy really come to know how devastating on so many fronts the abuse crisis has been. The Pope was given an opportunity to enlighten himself, which would be a catalyst for healing, but the Pope and/or the Curia has chosen not to take advantage. Very sad.
ReplyDelete