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CNN Live Today

People Losing Faith in Leader of Catholic Archdiocese of Boston

Aired April 11, 2002 - 10:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it may not be on the same scale, but there is also a matter of peace in the Catholic Church to talk about this morning. More and more people seem to be losing faith in the leader of the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, and they are now asking Cardinal Bernard Law to step dawn. Many critics say that Law didn't do enough to protect children from pedophile priests.

Here is our Jason Carroll with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The pressure is mounting for Cardinal Bernard Law it step down. Editorials in the "Manchester Union Leader and "The Boston Globe" are leading the call.

RENEE LOTH, EDITOR, EDITORIAL PAGE, "THE BOSTON GLOBE": The anguish in the Boston community, it really can't be overstated, and it really was reflected in the editorial board's decision as well.

CARROLL: Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy says the church scandal has been painful for everyone.

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: It has certainly been the most difficult situation that any of us have sort of seen in our time. And with regards to myself, I guess my own communications and conversations with the cardinal, but I'm not saying anything about that.

CARROLL: Cardinal Law and other church officials could be facing something more serious than losing a position in the archdiocese. The state attorney general is reviewing internal church documents released Monday regarding Father Paul Shanley. Shanley is an accused pedophile priest who, documents show, was moved by Cardinal Law from parish to parish.

TOM REILLY, MASS. ATTORNEY GENERAL: But ultimately, there may not be a criminal solution to this problem. Is it likely that additional charges may be brought against some of the offending clergy? Yes, I would expect that there will be.

CARROLL (on camera): Only the pope can remove a cardinal from his position, and so far, the Vatican isn't talking about Cardinal Law's situation. As for Cardinal Law, he isn't talking either. Jason Carroll, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, as you heard in Jason's piece, a lot of people believe the church needs new leadership in Boston in order for Catholics to heal and move forward. Some believe that Cardinal Law's resignation is inevitable. And joining us to talk about more about the controversy is Thomas Groome. He is a professor of religious education at Boston College and author of the book, "What Makes us Catholic." Mr. Groome, good morning, and thanks for joining us.

THOMAS GROOME, BOSTON COLLEGE: Good morning, Daryn -- yes, thank you.

KAGAN: The latest backlash against Cardinal Law coming from your own school, a call for him not to participate in graduation ceremonies.

GROOME: Yes, which has to be terribly embarrassing for us and for him. I mean, it has reached a point here, Daryn, of just where we're on standby and fully expecting the cardinal to resign. The strong rumors are that he will do it today. He hasn't done it yet, but I think at this stage we are hoping and praying he will do so.

KAGAN: And why as soon as today?

GROOME: Well, I think today is late. It should have been probably a couple of months ago, when this thing first broke. But he chose to try to ride it out, and to be the leader that would help turn the church around in Boston and bring in the kind of reforms that are clearly needed. But I think it is patently obvious to the vast majority of his people, leadership and laity that indeed he is not the person to help us turn it around -- that we do need a new cardinal at the Archdiocese of Boston. We wish him well, and we thank him for his service over the years, but now it is time to turn this around.

KAGAN: Sir, there is no denying that there is a huge mess, and by looking at those documents that came out, a big mess much of his own making. But there are those who believe, and including one of the alleged abuse victims who have come out and said, Cardinal Law is the man who must clean up the mess.

GROOME: Well, you see, I don't think he is going to have the moral authority or the support of his people to help clear up the mess. For example, there is a very significant drop off in contributions to Catholic Charities, the largest social service here in New England. And so there are serious signs that his own pillars of support have eroded, and therefore he is not the one to help us clean up the mess. But there will be other people who will indeed give us the kind of leadership that we need (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

KAGAN: Well, if not him, then who?

GROOME: Oh, I don't know, Daryn. That is far beyond the scope of a mere theologian to read the mind of the pope, and I would imagine that they would move quickly to appoint a strong leader to indeed help us turn this dreadful calamity and to begin the healing, the healing for the innocent victims, the healing of the damage done to the church. I think it will take a strong leader, and hopefully we will have one soon.

KAGAN: And as part of that healing, you write in many of your works that you are concerned that people who are trying to deal with their faith, both in and outside the church, don't confuse the church and its leadership with their faith in God.

GROOME: Yes, indeed. It is helping us as Catholic Christians, I think, Daryn, to realize that our faith is not in the church per se. The church is enormously important to us, but the church is a means to an end. It's not an end in itself. Our faith is in God, in Jesus Christ, in the gospels, and in this rich Catholic tradition of spirituality and sacramentality (ph) and commonality that I do outline in my book, but there are wonderful gifts for life and marvelous ways to live humanly and religiously and as Christian people in the world. So it's still a wonderfully rich life-giving tradition. I think this dreadful crisis, as painful as it is and heartbroken as we are, it has returned us to the deep structures of our faith again.

KAGAN: Thomas Groome, thanks for joining us with your comments today, sir.

GROOME: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: Thanks for being with us -- thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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