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CNN Live Saturday

Cardinal Law Plans to Take Weekend of Reflection, Prayer

Aired April 13, 2002 - 12:26   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law says he plans to have a weekend of reflection and prayer. The leader of the Boston archdiocese is under pressure to resign over his alleged mishandling of child sexual abuse cases. But Law says he plans to continue serving the Catholic Church. Our Frank Buckley has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As protesters called for Bernard Cardinal Law to resign, the cardinal sent a spokeswoman out to make known his position along with a letter that was distributed to his brother priests. In it, he says I know that there are many who believe my resignation is part of the solution. It distresses me greatly to have become a lighting rod of division when mine should be a ministry of unity.

DONNA MORRISSEY, SPOKESWOMAN FOR BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE: His desire is to serve this archdiocese and the whole church with every fiber of his being and he will continue to do so as long as God gives him the opportunity.

BUCKLEY: Just how long that is isn't clear. The cardinal was in private meetings and in prayer, according to the spokeswoman, not available to clarify. Nor would the spokeswoman clarify the cardinal's explanation of the case of Former Boston Priest Paul Shanley, an accused pedophile who according to internal church documents released this week, was transferred from parish to parish with the knowledge of church officials, including Cardinal Law. Law saying in his letter that the case brought home with clarity how inadequate our record keeping has been. The letter provoked an angry reaction from the parents of Greg Ford, one of Shanley's alleged victims.

RODNEY FORD, FATHER OF ALLEGED VICTIM: Go home and sleep tonight Cardinal Law because my son and our family won't.

BUCKLEY: Others here echoed the sentiment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really think that Cardinal Law is part of the problem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a shame for the Catholic Church. It's an embarrassment.

BUCKLEY: But on a talk radio program, an expression of relief over the cardinal's decision.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm very pleased and it's an answer to prayer.

BUCKLEY: The show's host, former Boston mayor and former ambassador to the Vatican, Ray Flynn, believes the cardinal's decision must have been approved by the pope.

RAY FLYNN, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN: I just know that the Cardinal Law is not going to send out some sort of trial balloon about his staying on as archbishop of Boston unless there's been some level of indication of support from the Vatican.

BUCKLEY (on camera): The spokeswoman for the Boston archdiocese said she wasn't privy to any communication between the cardinal and the Vatican that could shed light on the matter. So for now, Cardinal Law remains more determined than ever, he said in his letter, to ensure that no child is ever abused again by a priest in the Boston archdiocese.

Frank Buckley, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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