Priest sent to prison for abuse

CHICAGO -- Fr. Daniel McCormack, the 38-year-old Chicago pastor whose sexual abuse case made national headlines in 2006, was sentenced to five years in prison July 2 after pleading guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse against five boys. The sentence was part of an agreement worked out with Cook County prosecutors and McCormack's attorney.

McCormack himself declined to apologize or make any statement in court. He could be released in as little as two and a half years. It is expected the archdiocese will seek to have McCormack removed from the priesthood.

The case drew wide attention because the abusive activities were so recent and because Chicago's archbishop, Cardinal Francis George, chose to leave the priest in place for several months after he became aware of serious allegations. Outside investigators later identified dozens of errors made by the church in its handling of the original accusations.

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