Cardinal George not only considers financial gain the motive force behind proposed state legislation that would widen opening for suing about sexual abuse, he said so in a letter of apology to parents of a victim of two priests, Sun-Times reports tomorrow.
“This is irresponsible, is not about the safety of children as the sponsor claims, and is clearly, to me at least, about money,” he wrote.
The victim, who is not suing, “called the letter outrageous,” Sun-Times reported.
“Victims sue for justice, not for fabulous houses,” said the man, who . . . is negotiating a settlement. “Nobody wants to live in a fabulous house that reminds you that you were molested by two priests as a boy.”
This is George at his blunt best. He has a knack for the sharp comment that should make his coming term as bishops’ conference president interesting, if not disastrous.
The bill’s introducer, State Sen. Terry Link, a Lake County Democrat, has heard the cardinal talk this way before and has told him it’s offensive.
This is not likely to slow the cardinal down, and his no-holds-barred commentary has echoes in how auxiliary bishop Thomas Paprocki characterized increasing financial pressures from victims.
“This attack is particularly directed against bishops and priests,” he said in a recent speech, adding that the principal force behind the attacks “is none other than the devil.”
Somehow, you’d think he would reserve diabolism for a number of other heinous things.
Blithe Spirit 