CHICAGO (IL)
Legal Broadcast Network
[with audio]
A lawsuit was filed in April 2014 against the Archdiocese of Chicago and Cardinal Francis George by a man who alleges that he was abused as young boy by Father Daniel McCormack. Lyndsay Markley represents alleged victim, suit in Cook County court. According to Markley there are ten
“Societally, we seem to have an epidemic of turning our heads the other way,” Markley opines. As early as 1997, Markley says, there were allegations of sexual abuse by McCormack. By the time he was moved to Chicago to St. Agatha’s Parish, the Archidiocese was well on notice that this was not an individual who could be trusted around children. He was moved to a place where he had more access to children. According to Marklye, the Archdiocese, in this context, is a business corporation operating schools, so how could it give McCormack access to the children? Also, his proclivities were known when he was in the seminary, yet he was anointed a priest.
Had the Archidiocese acted more quickly, it would have prevented more children from being exposed to abuse, and it would have limited the Archdiocese’s exposure to damages.
Markley observed that “Passersby on the street can turn their heads, but when you are legally responsible for people, that can’t be your attitude.”
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