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| Archdiocese reviewing new policies By Michelle Martin Staff writer Archdiocesan Chancellor Jimmy Lago said in a statement that the bishops’ decision will likely affect eight priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago, all of whose cases previously were evaluated by the Fitness Review Board. They include three who were never withdrawn from parish ministry but allowed to function with monitoring, four who were allowed to minister in special services but not in parishes, and one, Father John Calicott, who was publicly withdrawn and then returned to parish ministry. Calicott, pastor of Holy Angels Parish on the South Side, was removed from his post in 1994 following allegations of sexual misconduct with two teenagers at another parish and was reinstated in 1995, following treatment, with the support of his parish and a co-pastor to help monitor his activities. Calicott, speaking to reporters following Mass July 17, said he would fight his removal. All eight cases will be reviewed again before any action is taken, Lago said. “Due process is necessary to honor the personal rights of all concerned,” Lago’s statement said. Policies in effect in the archdiocese since 1992 contain most of the elements in the new norms, Lago said, but there will be some changes after further review of the bishops’ action. At the same time, the archdiocese was criticized for payments made to former priest Vincent McCaffrey, who resigned in 1993 following a review of his case by a special review board set up by Cardinal Bernardin. McCaffrey had been removed from his post at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish on the Southwest Side in November 1991 because of several allegations of sexual misconduct with minor boys from the early 1980s, said Mary McDonough, an archdiocesan spokeswoman. In 1992, as part of the work of the special commission on clerical sexual misconduct with minors, the cases were reported to the state’s attorney, McDonough said. When McCaffrey resigned, the archdiocese agreed to provide money to help him make the transition to lay life and for continued counseling, but the amount was less than $100,000 over five years—less than half the amount reported in some Chicago media. The agreement came to light when court documents were found in McCaffrey’s home following his arrest on charges of possessing child pornography. Front Page | Digest | Cardinal | Interview |
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