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CNN Live Today
Future of Boston Cardinal Up In Air
Aired April 26, 2002 - 14:04 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Reports today say that the Boston archbishop, Cardinal Bernard Law and his future may be discussed right now. The "Boston Herald" says he could be moved to the Vatican for a position there. And all this coming as criticism directed at Law fails to subside in the wake of the church sex abuse scandal.
Now new documents adding fuel to the fire have emerged. Jason Carroll with more on all of this now, in Boston.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Boston's embattled cardinal, Bernard Law, is back from the Vatican meetings and will have to face new troubles here at home. The archdiocese of Boston released new documents relating to Father Paul Shanley, an accused sex abuser. There are about 800 pages, which archdiocese officials say they overlooked.
REV. CHRIS COYNE, ST. JOHN'S SEMINARY: It's terribly embarrassing to come out and say this, that at this late date, they found files like that.
CARROLL: The files include some of Shanley's writings on subjects such as counseling the young about how to take drugs without overdosing. He writes -- quote -- "must of my life these last few years has been choosing not twixt good and evil but the lesser to the two evils... my god I've even taught kids to shoot up properly."
Shanley later explained he was trying to prevent kids from dying. Another page is titled "venereal disease." Shanley says -- quote -- "One of the first things I do in a new city is to sign up at the local clinic for help with my VD." The documents do not indicate how he would have contracted such a disease or whether he got it before priesthood.
RODERICK MACLEISH, ATTORNEY: But these are the writings of a perverted monster who was sent out in the field, unsupervised, to be with alienated youth, with children.
CARROLL: The documents also show clergy were warned about Shanley. And allegations he spoke at the opening session of NAMBLA, the North American Man Boy Love Association.
PAULA FORD, ALLEGED VICTIM'S MOTHER: This is the church that we are talking about. It is the most twisted story. If I read it, I wouldn't believe it.
CARROLL: It was fallout from the Shanley documents released a few weeks ago that sparked calls for Cardinal Law's resignation. Those documents showed Law and other clergy moved Shanley from parish to parish, despite accusations of sexual abuse. It's unclear how the new documents will affect Boston's archbishop, who has pledged to address the crisis as long as god gives him the opportunity to do so.
(on camera): Shanley's co-counsel told CNN that he has not had the opportunity to look at these new documents. Shanley hasn't commented on any of the charges. He hasn't been seen publicly since the scandal broke.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: More on this now. Fresh from Rome and a meeting with the pope, U.S.cardinals have once again come together. This time they are in Philly, and so too is Maria Hinojosa, who joins us now live with a report from there. Maria, good afternoon.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, tonight's event is called the American Cardinals' Dinner. It's a yearly event for the past 13 years. But clearly the atmosphere tonight, very different than what has happened in the past 13 years.
The cardinals coming tonight, six of the eight U.S. cardinals. Those cardinals were, earlier this week, at the Vatican with the pope. And there are reports that there are divisions emerging among the cardinals that will be expected here in Philadelphia tonight.
Divisions not on strict theological issues, but rather on the intricacies of how the church deals with sexually abusive priests. Do they report one-time offenders or just serial offenders? Who do they report them to, church authorities or to legal authorities? And what is a zero-tolerance policy?
Philadelphia's Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua has been clear. He says his policy has been clear from the very beginning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARDINAL ANTHONY BEVILACQUA, PHILADELPHIA: In the seminary that's been my policy for all of the priests that I have ordained. I told the seminarians every year, I tell them, just one act -- that's been proven, now -- that you'll never function as a priest in the archdiocese of Philadelphia. And probably no place, because no diocese would take them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HINOJOSA: Now, that is clearly what the victims of past sexual abuse by priests would want, but has not always been the case. Another concern: will the sexual abuse scandal in the church become a financial crisis? Tonight 800 people are expected to pay $1,000 a plate for the dinner. That will raise $1 million for Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
Church officials here saying there have been no cancellations as of yet -- Bill.
HEMMER: Maria, thanks. Maria Hinojosa in Philadelphia.
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