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CNN Live Today

Speculation Grows Regarding Boston Cardinal's Resignation

Aired April 11, 2002 - 12:23   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.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Speculation is growing that Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law may step down. Pressure has been building for the cardinal to resign over criticism he did little to protect children from priests accused of sexual abuse. CNN's Jason Carroll is live outside the Boston archdiocese. And what are you hearing from there, Jason?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, to begin with, Fredericka, I want to start out by talking about something that happened right out in front of the archdiocese of Boston just about an hour and a half ago. A man who identified himself as Chris Loag (ph), walked onto the property of the archdiocese. He said he wanted to make a citizens' arrest of Cardinal Law. The reason why he says is because -- he says when he was a child, he was molested by John Geoghan. Just to backtrack a little bit about him, that is the defrocked -- he was defrocked and convicted on child molestation charges and apparently he was moved from parish to parish under Cardinal Law's watch.

Now when Chris Loag (ph) walked onto the property, he was met by police and he was also met by a spokeswoman from the archdiocese who talked him down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONNA MORRISSEY, BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE: Clearly, it is a painful time, and we want to make sure that if people are coming out and asking for help, that we get them help in the best way that we can. And if people want to be heard, they need to be heard, and we want to make sure that we provide a way in which they can be heard. And we don't want to see anyone get arrested. We do not want to see the pain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: And yesterday, there was a lot of speculation sort of floating about among media circles that perhaps Cardinal Law would resign even as early as today. But so far, there has been no word from Cardinal Law on this. However, there has been many calls in the community for Cardinal Law's resignation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): The pressure is mounting for Cardinal Bernard Law to 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 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's certainly been the most difficult situation that any of us have seen in our time. And with regards to myself, I've got my own communications and conversations with the cardinal, but I'm not saying anything beyond 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, MASSACHUSETTS 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.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (on camera): Cardinal Law's supporters say that having him resign really would not do any good because that, they say, is not the way to affect real change within the church. The spokeswoman for the archdiocese says there is no word on whether or not Cardinal Law will resign -- Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jason Carroll outside the Boston archdiocese, thanks very much.

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