N.H. bishop to step down; once criticized for handling of Boston clergy abuse cases
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Bishop John Brendan McCormack, whose handling of clergy sex abuse cases in the Boston archdiocese drew criticism after the clergy abuse scandal broke in 2002, is retiring from his post leading the Manchester, N.H., diocese.
McCormack, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 75, will be replaced by the Rev. Peter Anthony Libasci, said a statement from the Diocese of Manchester.
McCormack will continue to lead the diocese until Libasci is named bishop in December.
A Massachusetts native, McCormack served at parishes in Salem, Peabody, and Malden-Medford. In 1984, he was appointed as the top aide to Cardinal Bernard F. Law, where he was in charge of investigating sexual abuse complaints in the Boston archdiocese.
His work as Law’s aide was criticized in 2002 when the clergy sex abuse scandal erupted, and many called on McCormack to resign, saying he had been involved in shuffling child-abusing priests from parish to parish.
McCormack later admitted that he had not done enough to help the victims. In 1995, he was ordained as a bishop and served as regional bishop for the South Region of Boston until 1998 when he was appointed the ninth bishop of Manchester. He announced his retirement in August 2010.
McCormack, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 75, will be replaced by the Rev. Peter Anthony Libasci, said a statement from the Diocese of Manchester.
McCormack will continue to lead the diocese until Libasci is named bishop in December.
A Massachusetts native, McCormack served at parishes in Salem, Peabody, and Malden-Medford. In 1984, he was appointed as the top aide to Cardinal Bernard F. Law, where he was in charge of investigating sexual abuse complaints in the Boston archdiocese.
His work as Law’s aide was criticized in 2002 when the clergy sex abuse scandal erupted, and many called on McCormack to resign, saying he had been involved in shuffling child-abusing priests from parish to parish.
McCormack later admitted that he had not done enough to help the victims. In 1995, he was ordained as a bishop and served as regional bishop for the South Region of Boston until 1998 when he was appointed the ninth bishop of Manchester. He announced his retirement in August 2010.
