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CNN Live Today

Shanley Bail Set at $750,000

Aired May 07, 2002 - 12:05   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: In a Boston now, a retired Catholic priest pleads not guilty to child rape charges. Paul Shanley and his case is perhaps the most controversial of the Catholic Church's priest sex abuse scandals.

Jason Carroll, once again, covering that arraignment today live in Boston with the latest developments there. Jason, good afternoon.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you Bill.

Father Paul Shanley was asked if he understood the charges that he was facing, namely three counts of child rape. Prosecutors saying between 1983 and 1990, Father Shanley sexually abused a young boy, at times taking him out of catechism class so he could molest him. A plea of not guilty was entered on Shanley's behalf. At that point, the deputy district attorney asked that bail be set at $750,000 saying Father Shanley represented a tremendous risk of flight. Shanley's attorney, Frank Mondano argued that Shanley is not a flight risk, saying that he lived at the same address in San Diego for the past years. He has roots in the Massachusetts community. But the deputy district attorney, Lynn Rooney, provided the court with documents from the archdiocese of Boston showing that Shanley had an interest in going to places such as Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica and most recently, in March, had traveled to Thailand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LYNN ROONEY, DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: I would suggest to this court that he is a tremendous risk of flight. The reasons for that, your honor, within documents that have been provided to our office by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, indicate his intention to hide his address and to relocate outside of this country.

FRANK MONDANO, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: This is a 71-year-old man who is in not the greatest of physical health who has no inclination to run, nowhere with all to run but has absolutely no criminal record at all in 71 years of his life. He is here to face charges, your honor. He made plans to face the charges, your honor. He retained counsel 3,000 miles away who made appearances even before he was arrested. I submit, your honor, he is no risk of flight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: District Court Judge Dyanne Klein ended up setting bail at $750,000 saying that if Shanley could meet bail, that he would have to agree to the following conditions. First, he would have to surrender his passports. Second, he would have to remain in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was not to have any contact with any children under the age 16. And also, he was not to have any contact with any potential witnesses in this criminal case.

In addition to this criminal case, there is also a civil case that is still pending with Father Paul Shanley, and in that civil case, Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law was scheduled to be deposed on June 5 but we're now learning that today an attorney in that case who's representing another alleged victim, Roderick MacLeish, the attorney will ask the judge to issue a order requiring Boston Cardinal Bernard Law to stay within the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Apparently MacLeish is concerned that at some point in the very near future, the Vatican could suddenly call Cardinal Law to Rome.

The Archdiocese of Boston, I should point out, has always indicated that if Cardinal Law is ever called for a court proceeding, that he would attend that proceeding.

I also want to point out just one more thing. In addition to the civil case that I just mentioned, there was also another civil case dealing with a different priest, defrocked Priest John Geoghan. And I just want to give you just a quit a little bit of an update on that. Cardinal Bernard Law is scheduled to be deposed in that civil case with John Geoghan tomorrow - Bill.

HEMMER: Jason, thank you. Jason Carroll in Boston.

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