Cardinal must stop the secrecy

I fully agree with the sentiments written by Ms. Janet Hauter (Fence Post, Feb. 3). The parents of the child who was raped by the Rev. Dan McCormick, who pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and was sentenced to five years in prison, did not want the records sealed but Chicago Archdiocesan lawyers were able to seal them. This kind of secrecy is still going on even though U.S. bishops came up with a whole new way of dealing with allegations of pedophile abuse. They seem to have put it in writing but not into practice. And here we have right in our midst the Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, having documents sealed to protect the child? Give me a break. It's to protect the Cardinal and his staff.

The Cardinal knows what he is doing. He has the best public relations group and lawyers that our money can buy. Why isn't the State's Attorney and the U.S. Attorney's office taking action following the cardinal's deposition?

All we need is more secrecy and enabling tactics in this sick system. Is that how Jesus would have wanted the church to behave? Wasn't there something in the Bible about "woe to you that hurts even one hair on these children's' heads?" I think Catholics need to call upon the Catholic Church itself to show the transparency and accountability they have said would exist. Not dodge tactics. And it is time for the media to investigate why these people are not being held accountable.

Joanne Cella

Barrington