Cupich was ordained a priest in 1975 in Omaha, where he served as an associate pastor, a high school instructor and director of the Office for Divine Worship at the archdiocese. Cupich also served as chairman of the U.S. bishops' child protection committee at the height of the clergy sex abuse crisis and as church leaders were putting in place a toughened policy on disciplining guilty priests. Cupich also addressed reporters and TV cameras in Spanish during an introductory news conference in Chicago and called for comprehensive immigration reform, saying "Every day we delay is a day too long." George has a master's degree in philosophy and a doctorate in American philosophy. Besides English, he speaks French, Italian, Spanish and some German. In 2002, at the height of the clergy sex abuse scandal, George helped win approval from reluctant Vatican officials for new U.S.