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Bishop leaves chair of panel on sex abuse

By Globe Staff, 4/20/2002

he Catholic bishop of Manchester, N.H., who helped handle three of the Boston Archdiocese's clergy sexual abuse cases, has stepped down as chairman of a national church committee on sexual abuse, according to a statement released yesterday by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bishop John B. McCormack left his position on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse to accommodate ''the press of diocesan business,'' according to the statement. He will remain a committee member.

Before moving to New Hampshire, McCormack was a top aide to Cardinal Bernard Law and monitored abuse allegations against the Revs. Paul R. Shanley and Joseph E. Birmingham and convicted child molester and defrocked priest John G. Geoghan. He has been named as a defendant in a suit against Birmingham filed in March by James M. Hogan of Wilmington, Del.

Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul and Minneapolis was appointed to replace McCormack.

RAY HENRY

This story ran on page A11 of the Boston Globe on 4/20/2002.
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